I had made a decision. This book had to be opened.
With determination, I opened my white painted door, turned the decorated key in the lock and ran to my bedside table. The book wasn't really secret, but somehow I didn't want to be interrupted in my plan. My fingertips were tingling. Strangely, though, so was my stomach. I knew exactly what it was from. Leondre. Since earlier, he had been much more present in my head than usual. The fact that he really wanted to help me made me so happy.

I leaned over to my bedside table and took the old book out of the drawer again. The cover was faded and the writing on it was illegible.
Carefully, with nervously shaking hands, the girl took the book to her bed. There she opened the curled pages. She still hated the musty smell. She turned the pages, careful not to bend them, for fear of them breaking or tearing.

Chapter 1
Do you also feel different? Have you had strange things happen to you throughout your life that you don't understand?
Are you more familiar with horses than with your dearest and closest friends? Then get ready to saddle your horse.
Our ancestors were practically born on the back of a horse. They were very wise people, even if they lived long before us. I am writing this book in a different time and a different world than you are in right now, even if you think that is virtually impossible. But why am I in this place?

A rider always has a horse. And a very specific one. We riders were created for a specific horse and as soon as we bond and become one, our souls also connect. That may sound crazy, but I am here and can confirm it.

There is a soul horse for each of us. Some need a little time to find theirs, others find it immediately. Such a connection can take time, but it doesn't have to. She can develop but only with the right horse and as soon as it happens they will know.

I sighed heavily. I knew for sure that it wasn't Tony for her. Even though I was so sure. I hoped so much.

This can manifest itself in the following ways:
- strong desire to go to a certain place
- voices in the head
- delusions
- visions
- the strong feeling of magic in certain places

So far the whole thing sounded more like a stupid story from a very crazy person. I snorted angrily. Then I skipped a few pages.

Chapter 8
If she and her soul horse are in the right place at the right time, a portal will open for them. To my world. That is the crucial goal of their journey together.

Depending on the bond between the rider and his soul mate, both can take on different forms.

I slammed the book shut angrily. So my family believed in such nonsense. My mother had believed in such things. I got angry. The stupid stuff was our well-kept family secret.
I should talk to someone else about it. Someone who wasn't completely crazy. But there was only one person in my head.
Until recently, Lara had been one of my closest friends. Now that she had Mike, she didn't even get in touch. I was afraid of becoming like that myself, but I couldn't help but pick up my cell phone and call Leo.
My nervous little heart was pounding in my throat; it had been a long time since I had spoken on the phone. Especially with Leo. But there was a good reason for it and it wasn't a whim. That's how I justified it to myself.

"Mina. Is everything OK?" was the first thing I heard from him. My stomach started to get warm.
"Yes, I'm fine." I replied quickly to take the wind out of his sails. A sigh of relief could be heard on the other side of the phone. "Listen, I opened this stupid book."
"The family heirloom?" Leo asked.
"Exactly. You wouldn't believe how incredibly stupid I feel. I can't believe what my mother believed in." I snorted angrily into the speaker.
"Well, what does it say?"
I switched the phone to speaker and put it on the bed next to me. Then I started reading to Leondre what I had already read. There was a deafening silence for a while.
"If your whole family believed in it, then there must be something about it, right?" he asked.
"It just sounds like a stupid fantasy novel," I admitted, defeated. "I don't know if I should believe in some nonsense that is impossible."
"I don't think it's wrong to believe in something that sounds unrealistic. What does your heart say?" he asked.
Now I remembered why we were friends in the first place. Leo had always helped me, had always been by my side and was guaranteed to be there for me when I needed him.
"If it meant so much to them, then there must be something behind it." I murmured.
"Would you like us to find out together?" This question just fell from the sky, straight into my arms.
"Are you sure you want to sacrifice yourself for such nonsense?" I asked uncertainly. Just to be on the safe side, of course.
"I would sacrifice myself for anything, as long as you think it's the right thing to do."
I noticed how my cheeks suddenly began to get hotter than they had been before. He was simply a fabulous person. "Tomorrow after school I'll come and help you with the horses. It's best if you read it again in peace and quiet and then we'll talk."
"Thanks Leo. You really are... the best." I avoided calling him a friend. Consciously, because I didn't want to give him the impression that he was in the friend zone.
"Take care." was the last thing I heard before the call was terminated. My heart must have been beating three times faster. I sat there quietly for a second and pressed my phone against my chest.

Then I grabbed the book again and started reading it from the beginning. The letters were big and many of the pages were elaborately decorated. It must have been of incredible value for the time it came from. No matter how often I read it, I still couldn't understand her mother any better. Soulmates horses and riders seemed to be explainable, but the whole magic thing less so. Why hadn't someone told me about it sooner. Little Mina would certainly have less difficulty believing such a story than someone who is somewhat grown up.

So I sat in front of the book. I read it line by line, while my thoughts kept drifting to one person. Leo.

I was really looking forward to tomorrow. Too much.