Excited to finally see Keno (my horse) again, I walked down a dirt track. As the trees cleared I saw the pasture, dotted with saddles, horses, and other freshmen. I strode past them and came to the corral. My horse stood out, his milk chocolate skin contrasting the golden light of the waning afternoon sun. I reached out with the worn leather of the bridle and caught him. He turned, his left eye, a mix of  mahogany and edges of light blue, searching me for the first time in weeks. We walked out of the gate. I tacked him up, and joined a group to ride back to campus. The familiar bouncing trot of my horse shook me. The crunchy brown leaves swirled in the wind. He was mine again.

 

Photo creds to Joy Sawyer Mulligan