"Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling with the mistaken belief that you can not bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond that pain."
― Kahlil Gibran

"You have horses here too?"

"Yes, I do," I responded. We were at my home on the River.

This was after the parachute incident. We both felt it would be safer here to start our detox. The middle of nowhere.

"Is there nothing you don't have?"

I eyed Rick. I couldn't help it. What he asked, caused my lips to do more and more of, and it always happened on the right side of my mouth. His natural way about things always caused me to begin to smile and fight it at the same time.

Nothing...

I am so far away from the woman who used to think she had it all. There was a time when I thought I did.

"Do you know how to ride bareback?" I asked Rick.

"I grew up on a farm, Michonne. It was my grandfather's farm before it became my Daddy's. I mean Senior...umm. Well, yes." Rick was flustered.

"Nothing I need to show you or tell you about the horse you are about to ride?" I overlooked his embarrassment.

Rosita's rule was for him to not tell too much about himself. He was breaking those rules slowly I found. What I did know about him, what he leaked made him endearing.

"I have never touched an Arabian horse. Never known a soul personally that owned one and you have four?" Rick marveled.

"This is King Flame." I introduced the horse that I was already on and the one Rick had the reins to, "The one you have is Queen Wind."

I watched the wonder and awe again on Rick's face as he caressed Queen Wind and she seemed to find pleasure in the man who touched her gently from her muzzle, the space between her eyes, her head and along her finely muscled body.

"Queen Wind likes you," I informed Rick.

"She is the most beautiful all Black Beast I have ever laid eyes on."

The word beast caused Queen to Neigh and for me to chuckle.

"She knows she's a horse, but she does not like the word beast. Please refrain, or she will Buck you right off her back when you mount her." I informed Rick.

We rode at a good speed along the path of the River bank. Rick tried to keep pace, but Queen knew that King preferred her a full gallop behind on his left side.

The way Rick adjusted to allow Queen to run along the lines outside of human whims touched me somehow for some reason; he was attuned. He held the reins loosely, and he touched the horse neck to signal the next movement after watching the direction I was going.

Mike was an excellent horseman. We used to ride often together. This was his dream to own and breed. I had a Stableman take a picture of Mike and Andre standing next to the horse stable. Andre was so happy when ever we would take him to ride on the horse positioned in front of his Dad.

Sometimes I can feel Andre when I ride. Sometimes the wind behind is strong enough to push forth a gust where I can sense him close to me, his small hand upon my face when I ride.

The soothing sounds coming from the River and the woods scattered along as the backdrop, I could hear Andre's laughter and his urgency for me to go faster so Daddy couldn't catch me.

They were never going to catch me because Wind knew Flame would never allow it. I rode Flame. Faster, Faster, Faster. I felt I was going to suffocate.

Queen Wind was air. Rick rode Wind with the confidence that she will keep pace with her King. Queen found her place by King's side with just a few gallops. Together we rode, and the horses guided us in our journey for we had no direction but forward and back.

Instead of suffocating, I was able to breathe as the two horses found common ground. I really didn't know it was okay to breathe even when I ached for my baby.

A/N:

I thank those who have reviewed. I thank those who continue to read but never review. Thank you.

The delays in posting is from re-reading what I have posted and then going back to make chapters more clear and or concise. Enjoy.

...

P.S: The next two chapters will reveal more of a dilemma within the dilemma.

Sidenote: Michonne has yet to have sex with Rick.