Once the sun set the horses once again moved on. The girl, as she had decided, sat there, not sleeping, not tired. She watched the gentle grass blow and looked up at the clouds, questioning anything and everything, her boredom dragging the night longer. At long last the day arrived and the horses once again appeared and once again looked older. This time a new horse appeared, laying next to the third horse, although still not moving, the third horse was clearly happier than before, just not better. The other horses still ignored the third horse and the sixth, continuing on happily. As per usual, the sun set and the horses disappeared and the girl was left alone. The girl, as she did the night before, stayed sat there, not tired, not upset, not angry or happy or sad or anything, she felt nothing, she thought nothing and just like that the day arrived as had the horses. The horses, once again looking older and two new foals appeared. One foal galloped around with the first, fourth and fifth horse and the other, laid next to the third and sixth horses, nuzzling up to them. The third horse, although still in the same place, seemed to have moved slightly, and seemed happier than before, but still not better. The day passed and the night came, the horses left and once again the girl was alone, once again unmoving, unfeeling and unthinking. 

The night passed as usual and as always the sun rose and the horses once again appeared. This time the horses were still aging, and as usual with the first, fourth, fifth and seventh horse they galloped and grazed and chased, ignoring the ones on the floor. As for the third and sixth laid on the floor, returning back to their unmoving stature. Where the eighth horse was laying just a day prior, was now empty. The two horses were curled up together, almost as if they were trying to comfort themselves. The girl watched on as always. She remained emotionless - detached. She didn’t acknowledge what was happening and refused to recognise the familiarity of the scene and quickly enough the sun set and the moon rose.  

Another tortuous day started once again, the girl stared out, not even looking at the horses, but the knocks started. Over and over and over again, she turned around to see who was knocking the blasted door but no one was there. The knocks continued until the girl flung her head around and looked at the horses. The usual horses were enjoying themselves, galloping and whining, filled with warmth. The contrasting horse remained still, and alone, both spots where two horses laid now abandoned, the once colourless grass now completely dead. The girl moved her eyes away, uncomfortable with the sight, ignoring it, opting to watch the galloping horses instead. The day passed and so did the night, opening up a new tedious day. This day something new happened with the horses. The youngest of the horses made its way to the horse that always laid in the grass and snuggled next to it, the other horses tried to encourage it to play but it refused to move, staying with it, almost like it was trying to comfort it in some way. The other horses left the young horse and continued the day as they always had, letting it stay. The girl watched on, a face flashing in her mind for just a moment, before she looked down at her fingers. She couldn’t bring herself to look back up, it scared her. It all felt so familiar but she couldn’t put her finger on it. 

The day continued, the horses left and the girl remained, continuing on this monotonous and seemingly never ending existence. As the sun rose, the horses appeared, once again older than before. Today the difference was that the laying horse’s sibling laid down alongside the horse and the youngest, while the other two continued frolicking and prancing, occasionally looking back at the three. The third horse was, as per usual, still laying, still staring, still unmoving, however there was something different about it, but the girl couldn’t figure out what was different. The girl continued watching the scene, pushing through another day and night. 

A new day another scene, The girl watched as the first horse hesitantly made its way to the three that were laying, it was hesitant, almost like it didn’t want to disturb the seeming peace. The two that had joined moved away, allowing the first to lay next to the always laying one and for the first time in a very long time the laying one moved, only its head, but it still moved. It almost seemed confused and uncomfortable, not knowing what to do. It quickly turned its head away from the other horse, remaining still once again. The monotony continued, the day and night passed and the girl remained in the same place. 

To the girl’s dismay the sun rose once again and this day all the horses that had always galloped and pranced were laying next to the usual still horse. There also seemed to be a slight bit more colour and a weed sprouting out of the ground, however the horse remained still and unmoving, just continuing to stare out into the field. This day nothing moved, it was still and quiet, not even a neigh or clopping of hooves could be heard and for the first time in quite some time the girl felt at peace and could breathe. The day passed once more as did the night, the girl felt content in a strange way, as if something clicked in her mind. She watched peacefully, the horse that always laid on the ground now in front of her, placing its head on the girl’s lap, the rest of the horses remained still, grieving, but where the horse always laid grass was now growing. The girl placed her hand on the horse’s head before it disappeared and for the last time the girl stood up and placed one foot onto the field that seemed to always be out of her reach.