Empty tears are cried by most in the darkest part of the night, or in the shower when no one else is around. Mine however are cried on the back of my horse. As we ride away from my house and up the hill that over looks the valley I call home. This is where I can let all barriers and guards down, all my pain, and hurt and torment come rushing in. As we get higher up the hill the climb becomes more rough. My horse never falters or stumbles never wants to turn back untill we have reached the top. Soon my thoughts wonder and it is as if I am no longer tied down to this earth but my horse and I are floating in a plane not of this world but where are my troubles seem lifeless. I reach my place. Its a rocky shale ledge that my horse and I can sit on and over look the valley and think. Soon my tears are dried and I can think back on my lost friend and the memories I shared with her. Times when I rode her to this spot. I think of friends and loved ones in the Airforce and Marines, and other states through out America, As I step off and sink into the ground. My horse nuzzles my neck she may not know my pain but I know that she feels it. She knows that I hurt inside and I wont tell anyone why I push those closest to me away, why I snap at people over small things. She knows that I will keep my pain to myself and not tell anyone about it. I tell her my secrets as I feel her warm breath on me as she stands guard over me. The chilling winter winds bring me crashing back to earth. I gather myself and compsure and through all my guards back in place, harden over my internal sores and wounds, I mount up on my horse and start our decent down the hill back towards reality, back towards the muck I face in everyday life. A smile slowly spread across as my horse dances down the hill begging for more slack in her reins, as I release the reins she bounds down the hill with the same force and power she sent me up. For the next few moments I am back in that special plane and I soon forget about my empty tears and let them float away.