My fluffy lockdown friend

I shivered as the Springtime breeze made its way up my arm. Wrapping my brown cardigan around me, I watched the sky fill with oranges and pinks. I moved closer to Mini who was stood next to me for warmth, content with her mouth full of hay.

When lockdown hit, the world went quiet. I couldn’t see my friends anymore, I couldn’t go to school, I couldn’t my visit family. My mum would usually go and feed our family horse every morning and every evening, but when she started doing night shifts, I took the role of feeding and grooming Mini in the evenings. I would look forward to going to see her all day. I couldn’t see anyone else, and it was like we were in this together.

I loved watching the sunset from her field and walking back through the neighboring fields each evening. It was a great change from being inside all day.

I was grooming Mini’s white fur in her field one day. I was daydreaming and everything was calm, not having to worry about the usual buzz of life. As the sun became lower, I looked up and noticed at least ten rabbits and two deer wondering around not too far from me. The golden sunlight made the grass appear glossy and the sky gleam. It was a beautiful sight, and I knew then that I didn’t want to come out of lockdown, I wanted things to stay like this forever.

Every time before I would leave, she would shoot me a look of disappointment – she didn’t want me to leave. She had grown up in her field with Daniel and he had recently passed away. Mini hadn’t been as happy since, and I knew that I was giving her company as much as she was giving me company.

It made me sad to think that soon we would have to give her away to someone who had more horses so that she wasn’t so lonely.

The next day, my mum was telling me about how she found someone to take care of Mini. I was happy, but it did mean that Mini would be moving up North. She would have a better life; it was a good thing, but it also hurt. It gave me a strange feeling inside, like things would be different and something would be missing.

That evening, seeing Mini felt different. I gave her a hug and she nuzzled her head closer to me. The sunset was extra bright that evening, almost like it was symbolising a brighter future. The grass seemed greener, everything felt rawer, like it wasn’t a dream anymore. The horse that I had grown up with since I was little was going to a new home.

Two weeks passed and I went to see Mini for the last time. I did everything like I usually would and gave her a cuddle before leaving. As I left, I shivered as the Spring breeze blew against my hair. I wrapped my brown cardigan around me and smiled, Mini will be happier now.