HEAVY MANE

Rainfall: 0.986 inches

I don’t know how long it was I lost Jason. 2, 3 years? I stopped keeping track of time, it was just arbitrary now. Shaun hasn’t really been the same since. Today, though, I wanted to go to the park. Surely swings and merry-go-rounds would cheer him up. But what would snap me out of this depression? I can’t go on like this. It was my fault... Would Shaun ever forgive me?

I barely noticed the door swinging open as Shaun walked in. “There’s some mail here for you.” Probably bills.

“Hey, buddy, got any homework?” I asked.

“No, dad, I think I’ll just watch some TV.” he responded.

“Well... you want to go to the park? I haven’t been there in so long, since-” I stopped there. Shit.

“Eh, I’ll be fine here.” he said. The headline caught my eye: ‘Origami Killer Strikes Again: Another Colt Found Dead’.

“You sure? I heard they put in a new merry-go-round...” Luckily that was enough to coax him to take a stroll to the park.

I sat down and saw my son smile for the first time in months. He was on the swings, and even though it was drizzling, he seemed happier than ever. “Hey, Shaun? Ready to go on the merry-go-round?” A grin was all I needed as a response. I galloped around the ride, smiling back at Shaun. But something was wrong. My vision started to fail and blackness was beginning to invade my mind. The last thing in my sight was Shaun, laughing, unaware of what happened to me.

The constant pitter patter of a torrential downpour eventually brought me to consciousness.The rain was beyond heavy, and laying down, I felt soaked. the ground felt moist, and the first sight was the swings. The next thing I noticed was a soft item on my hoof. Yawns ensued as I reached to pick it up. In front of me was an intricately crafted origami mare, slightly stained red. Fucking no. No. No. No.

“SHAUN!”

Despite the concerned pang in my voice, I shouted the name more times than I ever wanted to count. I must’ve ran hopelessly for hours in the pouring rain. I didn’t notice as the drops of liquid anguish pounded me. He was gone. Forever.

The rain masked my tears as I yelled at the sky, not understanding why this happened to me.