All My Nightmares I stood with the head collars in my hand. I stared at the small blue roan Shetland pony in front of me and began to sweat. What if I got this wrong? What if the owners didn't like me? I closed my eyes and imagined the chestnut pony with a wonky, white blaze I once knew. Fury. But no, I was readying myself to run towards him and hug him forever and so the pony transformed back into herself. Maybe imaging it to be my friend Lila's pony Danny would be better. But, again, no. I felt a nagging behind me telling me to slow down, that he was hers not mine. My wrist had already strayed from my side and was being held out to the side like as if she were really there, pulling me back, but it was barely noticeable. They'd only see if they were watching me, noting down my every move. Which they were. Damn. So I imagined her as her. How bad could it be? I took two steps forward as I introduced myself. "Hey, I'm Natalie. You must be Smoky," I said quietly. She raised her head to look at me. I plucked grass up from the ground and held it out. She stared at it for a while. It was thinner, greener, lusher, more smooth than the coarse grass she was eating. At least, that was what I guessed. She wouldn't come over to me if she had something better than what I was offering, would she? I slipped the purple head collar on and led her away. Right. Jackson. I strode over to the red roan Shetland and introduced myself the same way that I did with Smoky. He readied himself to bolt but restrained, seeing Smoky beside me. As I finished putting the black head collar on, I flashed a brief 'thumbs up' to my friend and family. I led them both up to a gate that had a sturdy metal loop for tying up horses by some logs (possibly used for mounting) and so I used it. I tied a simple slip knot and took the last head collar up to the dapple grey mare called Misty. She looked up and for some reason I felt no need to introduce myself. She started to trot up to me and I mimicked her excitement. I placed the pink head collar on, collected Smoky and Jackson and led them away. "You did good!" My father mouthed. My mother gives me a wink but Lila refused to make eye contact. Wasn't she happy for me? "Well," says the woman, pulling me back into reality,"When do you start?" I feel amazed; this was what I had dreamed about for so many years and #life had given me three horses to take care of! I pull myself together and steady myself. "Today," I reply. #Horses