Papa's Ranch

I looked out my bedroom window, the city lights lit up the black sky above me. I loved the city, something about knowing that I'm not alone is comforting. But I knew I couldn't stay here. Not with the rules that they were soon about to make us live by. They wanted us to live in their little bubble. They were going to dictate everything. The time we woke up, when and what we eat, if we get to leave the city or not. Everything was going to be under their control. I had to leave, I needed to escape to the country. The only place I could think of was my papa's ranch. He passed away about 20 years ago. He was a huge part of my life. I still hate reminding myself that he's gone, but that's exactly what the country does. Every time I thought of him it was like my entire mind goes into complete lockdown. I got in the car and I drove, the ranch was a few hours out. Once I pulled into the driveway my eyes started to tear up. Uh-oh, I felt my body sway in my seat and my eyes began to burn like the sun itself. He's still alive I told myself, he's probably in that kitchen cooking bacon. He's still alive I thought. Then everything faded to black. I woke up the next morning in my car. I couldn't remember exactly what happened last night but as soon as I looked up and saw the ranch once again I was reminded. This is why I love the city. This is why I find comfort in all the people, it was a distraction. Here, I'm left with me and my own thoughts, that's all. I got out of the car and entered the ranch. Everywhere I looked I found a new memory. Pictures of me and papa fishing. I picked up one of the pictures and dusted it off. I remember that day so perfectly. I miss him more than anything. I walked down into the empty horse stalls. I noticed something lying on the ground, I ambled down over to it and picked it up. It was the little brown teddy bear papa gave to me one day. I remembered that day too. I remember being so excited to see papas horse, he told me to close my eyes. I stood there with my eyes closed waiting to see the horse. Just then he placed the cutest teddy bear I'd ever seen in my hands. I giggled, "I want to see the horse now papa!" I said. I wish I didn't. He showed me down to the very end stall and I stared at the horse, mesmerized. I tried to pet it, but the horse went crazy, it broke through its stall and it was about to trample me. That's when papa pushed me out of the way, i dropped my teddy bear and the horse trampled him instead. He didn't make it. I felt myself sway again. He's still alive. I told myself. Then I passed out once again. When I woke up two policewomen were standing over me. "Tried to escape the city, huh?" One of them said. I didn't know what to say. They picked me up I fought, I couldn't live in a box. I will not let people make decisions for me. I make my own decisions, if I did something that caused a bad situation, I should take the blow. Living in a life where people decide for me would never allow that. I don't want to live like that, Papa wouldn't want me to live like that. All the sudden one of the policewomen took out a gun, I heard a bang, and I fell to the floor. Everything faded black once again, but this time it wasn't because I thought of Papa, it was because I would finally get to see him again.