Page 191 - Revelation

Svetlana de Rohan-Levashova. Revelation

time in the newspaper at that time, because he was engaged in writing plays for the
Russian drama theatre and we did not have too much money then, although it was time
for me to learn to ride a horse. So, the only possibility to do it was to ask to ride
sometimes on Snow-storm which for some reason liked me too and was always glad
when we rode together.

But lately Snow-storm was very sad and did not go out, staying in her courtyard.
To my huge regret, I had not been allowed to ride her for more than three months. The
thing was that her owner suddenly died three months ago. Most likely it was too hard
for his wife to see Snow-storm with somebody else, because her husband and Snow-
storm were very attached to each other. So, the poor horse spent the whole days in her
stable (although very large), infinitely missing her beloved owner who suddenly
disappeared somewhere.
It was exactly that wonderful friend to which I was taken in the morning of my
tenth birthday.

My heart almost jumped out of my chest! I could not believe that now my greatest
child's dream came true! I remember that since I managed to climb onto Snow-storm
for the first time, I endlessly entreated my parents to buy me a horse, but they always
said that "it’s not a good time for this and we’ll do it, of course. I just had to wait a
little".
Snow-storm greeted me in a very friendly way, just she always did, but I saw that
she had changed in some way over these three months. She was very sad. Her
movements were slow and she was not too eager to go out outside. I asked the owner
why Snow-storm seemed so different. She answered that poor Snow-storm, apparently,
missed her owner, and that she was very sorry about it.
– Try, – she said, – if you can "revive" her, she is yours!

I simply could not believe what I just heard and swore to myself not to lose the
chance! I carefully approached Snow-storm and tenderly stroked her moist velvety
nose and began to talk gently to her. I told her how good she was and how much I loved
her and that we would get on very well and how much I would take care of her.
Certainly, I was just a child and sincerely believed that Snow-storm would understand
everything I said, but even now, after so many years, I still think that this amazing horse
truly understood me... Anyway, she tenderly touched my neck with her warm lips, as
if telling me that she was ready to go for a ride with me.
At last I climbed onto her – being extremely nervous, I missed the stirrup several

times. I did my best to calm down my agitated heart which almost jumped out of my
chest and we moved from the courtyard, taking the familiar path which led us to the
forest where we both loved to stroll. The unexpected "surprise" made me shaky and I
could not believe that all this was truly happening! I wanted to pinch myself and at the
same time I was afraid that I would wake up from this wonderful sleep and all would
be just a beautiful festive fairy-tale... But time went by and nothing changed. Snow-
storm – my favourite friend – was here with me and I lacked just a tiny bit in order for
her to be really mine.
That year my birthday fell on Sunday. As the weather was truly magnificent, there
were a lot of people outside. The neighbours strolled along the street, stopped to share

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