Bonds

The snow doesn't appear too ominous when the sun is shining. She watched it sparkle and dance before deciding where to settle. The light, friendly, flakes. Not the gray, dreary ones. It reminded her of days with her mom, little kisses is what she called the magical snowflakes.

Mom loved all of the seasons but longed for the sun. It makes even the worst of days a little better she would tell Cam. Cam thought her mom's smile made everything better.

Between mom and her horses she loved every minute of the farm.

School was okay but nothing beat finding a new path and perhaps a flower patch that hosted bunnies and birds.

Bessie always told her how stupid she was, lost in her mind all day, never actually doing anything. She couldn't see her life without imagination. Bessie had every day, every minute planned out. Kyle doesn't speak, he spoke years ago but nothing now. Bessie says that he's so mad that mom is gone that he gave up on people. He spends all his time with the animals. Even when he finishes his chores he brushes the horses and chases the dogs.

Cam wanted a world with a real brother, a real sister, not step siblings. 

She liked games and laughter, not the quiet droning of her house. Since she is now forced inside.

Bessie said she needs to live in the real world. Bessie said it's bad enough she has to be Kyle's mom but she doesn't want to care for Cam too.

Cam vowed to be more independent and leave this place. She tries to lift weights and exercise, sometimes she'll catch Kyle watching her. 

Cam continued to watch the snow and saw a brilliant ray of sun piercing the lake. 

Bessie had once told her there was a gold car frozen in the lake. 

Cam wasn't sure if it was her imagination or if there was a golden reflection under the large tree.  

It looked really real. 

Cam couldn't stop looking at it.

What if? What if it were real? If the car really is there?

She could fly, she could be free. She would always feel free, like how she used to before the accident. 

If only one day she could ride again, despite everything she still wanted to. 

One day she watched Kyle the entire day, moving the horses from fence to barn, brushing their mane. Laughing at the dogs as they chased squirrels. 

That was her old life, stolen by the very thing she loved most in the world, horses.

 It seems a million years ago when she was riding horses every day. Back then she was outside every chance she could get. If she wasn't riding horses she was climbing trees playing with the barn cats and anything that could keep you outside. Cam never had any patience with Bessie, she always talked back and never seemed respectful. Kyle was always nice, Bessie should have appreciated that Cam's family owned everything and that is why Bessie's family had a job.

Kyle seemed appreciative or maybe he was just nice.

Cam was a little jealous that Bessie and Kyle had each other. At least if their parents ignored or left them they had each other. Cam only had the horses and while they listened well they couldn't really give advice. 

Cam had a lot of time to reflect and maybe she didn't treat Bessie as nice as she should've. In particular she shouldn't have made fun of Bessie when her friends from school were over. What did she call her, a horse cleaner? And all the girls giggled and the look on Bessie's face. 

What was that look? Hurt, yes, but something else. Anger, yes, that too, but another expression Cam couldn't place. 

Cam hated being inside.

 All of the world all of the beauty of the freedom was outside.

 Inside was just for eating and staying warm while you slept.

 If it were up to her she'd get a bedroom in the barn.

 When she was outside she would look up at the sky and the whole world opened up, the big beautiful trees it just seemed like there were no limitations.

 You could be who you wanted and you could go where you wanted to.

 She never thought she would lose all of that and her family. She never thought she would end up living with the staff. That is her new family, and they still have the freedom of the outdoors where she is trapped inside.

She grabbed her coat and went outside. 

The sun felt beautiful on her face. Maybe she should consider getting back on the horses. People have told her she could even ride behind in a cart. There would be no danger of falling then.

It was so icy near the big tree. She couldn't see the golden reflection anymore. Maybe Bessie was lying but

Bessie didn't have imagination, she wouldn't make that up. 

Cam wheeled on the ice and started her way towards where she saw the gold.

Bessie didn't understand, when your feet can't take you places your mind has to.

Why did Bessie tell her about the gold car, she tried to remember how that conversation happened. 

It was last week after they had fought. 

The ice seemed to be floating for a second. 

One more thing Cam started to remember. 

Bessie mumbling to Kyle, "that stupid girl will believe anything ".

Cam froze, it was a trick. More than a trick, Cam suddenly placed what that other expression was, a resolved look, a revengful expression. 

No one could understand why Cam's favorite horse threw her, no one suspected foul play. But a "horse cleaner" could've placed a spike under the saddle. 

She slowly turned around just noticing for the first time how thin the ice seemed.

The last thing she heard was a giant crack. 

She awoke to Kyle rubbing her hands and feet and the sound of the fire cracking.

"What were you doing sis?".

A big smile light up Cam's face.

She has a brother.