She stands there for a while, largely motionless except for those watchful blue eyes, when suddenly they seem to ice over and no longer see what truly lies before her. Having a child’s imagination, she has always been able to paint vivid images in her mind, but lately, the images have become silent and sometimes terrifying. And worst of all, they are not her own products. No, they come unbidden every time and she can’t explain how.
The location is unchanged and in it, she sees a child nearby. It plays and frolics as any babe should at such a tender age, but unlike Beth, it lacks in confidence when it decides to test the waters. The steps are hesitant, and this becomes its downfall. The unsteady feet slip on the slick rocks in the creek bed. Today, the creek is no quietly bubbling channel. Instead, it is more of a raging river, fed by unusually excessive snowmelt from the distant mountains.
She watches as the foal is swept toward her by the fast-moving current and is eventually dashed against the very rocks that loom beside her. She could not feel the terror that the child must have felt, but she can certainly imagine it.
And there the vision ends.
And that is when her name rings through the air, heavy and twisted with dread, startling her. She jumps and searches for the source. That is when she sees the gilded figure thrashing in the water.
“Mama!”
Her voice is clear and strong as a pealing bell announcing the hour. She does not wait for Bible to come to her, instead she wades over to the panicking mare. She is not stricken with vexation toward her mother for disrupting her opportunity to meet someone. No, Beth is always patient with her, allows her to hover, for she always relishes any affection that her mother gives.
She speaks softer now, seeking to soothe her mother’s nerves. “Mama, I’m here. I’m alright.” Then she waits for the anxiety to ebb away before she reaches out to touch the cool metal of her mother’s shoulder.
“I won’t play in the water anymore, Mama, if it worries you. Should we go somewhere else?”
There is no hesitation in her promise and she knows that she won’t break it, for she can still see the ruined body of the child from her vision. No, it won’t be difficult to avoid the water after today.
Vallebeth
@bible btw, since Squirt asked, I should probably tell you too that I'm writing her as somewhere around 6 months old =)