we hiked through the woods near his house, and i wished to myself that there had been such trees where i grew up. soon, it began to snow, and the path grew thin, rocky. sweeping to the left was a deep valley and a black lake, and out of the corner of my eye i saw a flicker of movement.

the horse galloped towards the lake, blinding white and blending into the snow that now fell thickly all around us. i grabbed his arm and tried to run after it, but he pulled back and i stumbled on alone. hitting the water i couldn't breathe, swallowed by deepness, but i flailed back to shore where the horse lay shivering. its ribs stuck out awkwardly, still half covered in the icy water, and i could feel its desperate hunger, its consumate sadness. sobbing, i pulled a glowing green leaf from my pocket and lured it up the hill, where it stood shuddering but beautiful beyond words. i couldn't find the trail, and he had left me there alone. after a moment, the horse turned away and disappeared into the snow to die. the wind screamed and snow smothered me, and long after i knew i was dreaming i couldn't wake up.