By Moonlight
by Julie Grantz
*** Note from me =)***
to me this is a story that will never be finished, because to me it is never perfect. No matter what I do, or what I change, this is the unfinishable story. Just thought I'd let you know.
Taylor Winter sat by the bonfire with her friends, telling stories. The waves of the ocean crashed blissfully ontot the soft sand, and the moon reflected on the waves of undecided blue. The tall wild grass stood guard at the end of the sand by the quiet road. THe only sound present was the quiet crackling of the fire.
A group of about twelve all taking their turns with telling tales. Some were scary, some funny, and some romantic. Almost everyone had told their story on that quiet spring night. Around the circle, each had their turn, and finally it was Taylor's turn. Sheknew of the perfect story to tell. Perfect for this moment in time.
"When I see a sun set, I am often times rememinded of a story that my mother once told be before she died. A story about someone she knew when she was in high school, and a story that most don't believe. Most people dont' believe it, because it is quite magical, and unlessthey can see the truth, they don't believe.
"My mother knew this guy, Will Hopkins. One night he told his buddies that he couldn't hand out with them that night. He said that he would go out to the beach to watch the water glisten in the moonlight, and that he was going to try to see ifthe myth of Sarah Vineyard and the white horse was true. Will's friends thought he was crazy.
" 'It's a ghost!' One said.
" 'A myth!' Exclaimed another.
" 'It doens't exist, and even if you do see it, no one will believe you.'
"Will responded to these remarks by telling them the legend. Trying to persuade his buddies to come with him.
" 'Once, a long time ago, a young girl named Sarah, was asked to Prom. Her family couldn't afford much, so she had to wear haer mother's white sun-dress. It was lace and patterened with small white flowers, and it made her look very beautiful. She prepared herslef for hours, because she wanted to be perfect. Yet, her date never showed. She got tired of waitieng, and would wait no more. She ran out to her yard, where she kept her beloved white horse. She hopped onto her horse's back and rouad him out to the beach in her sun dress.
" 'She galloped her horse up and down in the shallow water, then galloped out into the sea. Her body was never found, and neither was her horse's. All that was found was a single rose she wore on her wrist, like a corsage. Twenty years ago today, on her prom day, this happened. Our prom is tomorrow. And she only comes back to the shore on the anniversary of her death. I must see her.'
"Will knew that his friends could never understand him, and he left before they could say a word..
"Well went strait to the ocean, and sat down int eh sand. He waited for about two hours. He watched thw waves crash and mingle with one another as the sun set and the moon full moon rose hight into the sky. He watched the moon on the waves, and the white foam of the sea that turned to pearls and diamonds at just the right light.
"Then he saw it. He saw a girl on a white horese, her legs streched down across the horses sides. She turned her head and saw Will. She brought her horse to a stop no more than ten feet from Will. Will could see her, and how beautiful she was.
"Will watched her long lightly colored hair blow int he sea breeze, and watched her knew length sun dress gracefully changed positios on her thigh as the horse and the girl moved about on the sand. She leanded forward ont he horse so her cheeks brushed against the horse's silky mane, and she put ehr hands on her horse's white shoulder. Will could see a red rose tied to her wrist. The waves lapped over the horses feet. The tide was comming in. "The moon behide the two pale creatures looked almost to big, and illuminated the entire coast. The ocean had now climed halfway up the horses' graceful ghostly white legs.
"Will didn't know how long they stood there looking at each other. But when she smiled at him, he fell apart. He fell in love. She beckoned for him to come closer, to get on the horse with her. He did as she asked. She took the red rose off of her wrist, and let it fall to the cool blue waves. The boy sat behind her on the white horse, and once again the girl galloped out into the ocean, but this time with someone with her. His body was never found, but once again, hers was."
No one said anything at the bonfire. The wind picked up a little and the tall grass whistled in the breeze. The fire died down a bit, and the soft sound of galloping hooves could be heard in teh distance. No one dared to look, but they all knew that the legend was true.
This story is © copyright Julie Grantz