Sarah felt like an idiot as she was lifted onto the horse. Her face resting on the warm hair of the horses’ neck, she felt her feet being pushed into the stirrups. Cautiously, she lifted herself and sat upright in the saddle. The horse twitched and pulled underneath her.

‘All yours,’ her father beamed at her with pride.

Two years since the accident. She remembered the pain as her spine and legs were crushed underneath the fallen horse. The months in hospital after waking from her coma. The rehabilitation. Accepting that she would never walk again. The determination that she would ride again.

Her hands rubbed the smooth flank of the horse. She tapped it and felt him respond by stepping forward. A few steps clenching onto the reins, another tap and the horse began to trot. That would be fast enough for today.

The breeze blew in from the sea, the spray gently hit her face. The horse splashed through the tide water on the wet sand.

Sarah smiled. She felt alive again.

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story, in around 150 words based on the weekly photo prompt. For more information visit HERE.

To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.