The shadow on the hill
There once was a shadow that lived on a hill alone with no one around. In the corner of his eye he sees a filly a little girl laughing she was playing in the flowers all by her lonesome. As she got deeper into the woods with the shadow lingering behind she began to frighten for she was lost, the shadow slowly approaches and speaks in a soft voice may I help you? Lost and frightened the child falls over a vine. A tree at her back, there is nothing to be afraid of filly I assure you says the shadow.
The filly staying silent afraid of the shadow. The shadow comes near and in his hoof creates a beautiful flower of bright purple the color of the filly’s mane. Are you lost? Says the shadow. The unsure but bewildered filly takes the flower and begins to smile. Yes says the child softly and unsure. I can’t find my way down the hill. The shadow smiles and says I could show you. The child is hesitant but takes his hoof. As they walk down the hill the child would laugh and speak of her family and the shadow would smile with a nostalgic feeling. At the bottom of the hill they would say their goodbyes but promise to meet again. The year after: Mr. Shadow Says the filly! The child has returned!
The shadow says happily smiling from ear to ear. The shadow leaps from the darkness to say hello once again. The filly would laugh and smile only to say hello. The shadow would take the filly deep in the forest to where they first encountered each other and would play and talk about what they have seen and heard till sundown. The shadow would take the filly down the hill wondering if it would be the last. Years after the girl began to grow eventually into a young mare beautiful as the flower the shadow once made for her. One day the young mare states abruptly, I love you! Since the day we first met do you feel the same?! The shadow paused for he did love the girl, but knew it could not last, for he has lived for many decades and knew they could never be.
I do said the shadow with a sad look on his dark face. Then why not look it the young mare proclaimed. You see I cannot die I’m a shadow I won’t die from age, but you surly will for this our love could never happen. The young mare sighs a sad expression upon her face. The shadow would grow closer as when they first met and smiles. The shadow peaking frankly should look for a man of brains a man of courage a man gentle and kind! The young mare feeling sad would agree to the shadow, knowing it was for the better. The shadow says but make me a promise when you would bear a child bring him or her to me so I may meet the child of the one I love. The young agrees. Many years later: The mare and her child a colt a young boy came walking up the mountain yelling for the shadow. The shadow happy springs up and moves at a fast pace towards the yells, you haven’t forgotten your promise says the shadow. The mare would nod with a smile.
As the mare and shadow converse and speak of the things they've done and seen the shadow would play with the child the young colt around the age of three. Overwhelmed with joy the colt so happy to have meet the shadow, again till sundown they would play. The shadow offering to bring the mare and small colt down. Down the hill once more many years after that day the mare would go up the hill side searching for the shadow to get no response. For the shadow could not bear the pain of watching the mare grow old. Weathered and tired the women went up the hill knowing this could be the last time she would venture there. The shadow appears and smiles. It’s been to long the old mare says. Let us head up hill. The shadow agrees to bring her up the hill again helping her all the way.
The shadow knowing the old mare hadn't have much time left tells her she will parish soon with sad look upon his face. Do not be sad, I had lived a full happy life said the old mare continuing with her wise words I got to fall in love watch my child grow to a man there is nothing left for me here, I came here to say goodbye. The shadow smiling even as a tear strolls down his face. Even after all these years you would still come here to see me the shadow says happily. The old mare nods. The old mare and shadow would speak a while dance tell of adventures until sundown.
I’ll bring you down says the shadow. As the shadow and old mare reach the bottom of the hill, the old woman speak fairly I wish to thank you, if not for your wisdom I would have never meet the man I married, and I would have not had my child. But still after all these years I still found myself loving you the old mare says grinning.
The old mare walks away and doesn't look back. I never stopped loving you either the shadow proclaims I always have and always will. The old woman smiling continues to walk forward refusing to show her face to the shadow for there was no going back only forward. After that day there was a terrible blizzard howling and crashing against all that would stand in its way. And for the old mare she passed away that peacefully night clinging onto her love for the mysterious shadow that lingered on that hill top. For the shadow he left the hill top to a new place to make a new home, not so he could forget that little filly but to ease the pain of his broken heart.
The end
