Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Juliet

I willed my mum to drive faster. She had been waiting in the reception of the school for me when they came to get me out of my class. My first thought looking at her pale face was that something had happened to my grandad. But it was the next worst thing. It was Billy.

"I have to say this to you Jules, I know you love this horse, but we can't afford to spend hundreds on vet's bills. Just the call out and initial consultation is going to be over a hundred. I just want you to understand that I can't afford to pay for surgery or anything that is going to need long term treatment. If that's what he needs you will have to accept the best thing we can do is put him to sleep straight away, there is no point in getting into debt if he might not get better anyway."

"He is going to be okay. He has to be." Tears are streaming down my face as I send a text to my granddad telling him what's happening. I know she is right, but I can't lose him, there has to be a way. I have been so careful I talked to the vet, did everything exactly as they said to try to avoid colic, I honestly thought we were past the most critical period even though I know they can get it at any time.

"I just want you to understand the situation before we get there. I hate that this is happening, but I have to think of the whole family, this is part of the reason I was against you getting a horse yet." Mum glances at me through the rear-view mirror. "Let's just hope its not as bad as it sounds."

I don't reply. She hasn't been happy about me getting him since my granddad first told her, but I thought she was finally starting to come around. Bitterly, I can't help but think, that if it was her horse, she would find the money, but I know that she probably couldn't. I've heard her talking to dad about maybe having to sell her horse.

It's a sore subject, dad got made redundant and his money's run out with no sign of him getting a new job. Mum's working more hours. That's her reason for talking about selling hers, she doesn't have time. Dad knows it is more about the money but when she mentions it, he flies off the handle at her saying she is trying to make him feel bad.

If granddad wasn't paying my livery, I wouldn't be able to have Billy, I know that's another thing they have argued over because mum won't ask him for money and dad thinks she should. Granddad was in an accident at work and got compensation, that was how he bought Billy for me. I hate it that the whole family is arguing about money. It's even more of a reason I need him to pull through, the riding school is where I come to get away from the arguing, it's where all my real friends are. But… if Billy dies, I don't know if I will be able to face going back there.

We pull in just behind the vet, I have seen her before and recognise her car. I have my seatbelt off before we stop and jump from the car the minute my mum puts the brake on. I don't wait for her I just know I need to get to Billy. Lou is standing at the entrance to the arena ready to meet the vet.

"Where is he?"

"In the arena, Romeo is walking him around."

I don't stop long enough to process her words. I sprint straight past her. The latch on the gates into the arena stuck as I fumble with them. As I burst through them, I see Billy walking towards me. I run straight to him, and he nuzzles me. I can see he is not right. Oh god what am I going to do?

"I ran and got Lou as soon as I saw him. She said it could be colic?"

I turn my attention to the boy on the other end of the lead rope.

"Thank you, thank you. Please let it be something simple. I can't lose him."

Tears start to roll down my face. I make eye contact with Romeo, and he looks uncomfortable. There is a weird sort of moment where we are stuck staring at each other, it feels weird like, I don't know how to describe it. It's like there is only me and him in the world. Just for a single moment I feel like I connect with him. The next second my mum, Lou, and the vet walk in.

"Okay. Let's take a look at him." The vet approached us and I can tell from her expression my mum has already had words with her. "I have to say apart from this problem he is looking really good. You have don't a really good job with him. No matter what happens now I want you to know you gave him the best chance he could have. You let him know what it was like to be loved."

"Why are you talking like he is going to die?" I look at her then at my mum and that's when my heart breaks into a million pieces and I know my mum has already told the vet to put him to sleep.