Lithe white fingers twirl into messy black mane

And she swings up

Landing in a tangled cascade of lanky limbs and blonde hair

As the chocolate-brown horse beneath her dances on light hooves

A deep breath

And they're galloping through the sand with reckless abandon

The echoes of thunderous strides and her joyous laugh

Trailing out behind them like a bride's ethereal veil

And I raise a hand in an unseen farewell