CSE: Chapter 1: June - 1.2

It was hours later when I went to my room and remembered to put on clothes. I found my backpack, thinking briefly of missing graduation. I thought I was too dried out to cry anymore, but I was wrong. I cried all the while I packed. I packed all the camping gear we never used. I discarded all but the most necessary. It was just the beginning of summer, and in went my sister's most lightweight shirts and socks; that gave me my first smile. I went to the kitchen and packed a canvas shopping bag with canned food and a can opener, then made for the horse stable at the end of town.

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I was introduced to horses at an early age, by one of my sister's many boyfriends. He thought he would get in good by being nice to the little sister. He soon found out that we cared little for each other, but it was too late; I was hooked.

Horses are expensive, whether you own them or just ride them. I never could get up enough money of my own to ride more than a few times a year, but the thought of finding a good horse and riding away came naturally, even if it felt like I should stay. Self preservation is very strong when you are a young, healthy girl and strongly self-sufficient.

It took me three hours to get to the riding stables, taking the short cut down the levee. It was only two miles, but how could I resist stopping at the houses of friends I’d known? And why didn't I leave right away when I saw that no one was there?

I fought myself all the way to the stables; how could I leave this place I’d known all my life? What if people returned; how could I leave? They might not be able to find me. But on the other hand, what if my town was the only one affected. What if there was a sudden illness and everyone but me was evacuated. I knew these thoughts were foolish, but they swarmed around my head. Foolish or not, I didn’t know what was going to happen. The only thing I could do was the best I could think of, and the thought that I had to leave became stronger and stronger. I continued to look through the mounts for one I could handle by myself.