The Redhead in the Red Barn

This morning she works in the barn. It’s her favorite place to be. What is it about it that she loves so much? It can’t possibly be the smell of manure. She laughs to herself and thinks, that it could be part of it. It’s a warm Spring day. The barn smells of freshly harvested hay. The loft is full of it. She can see the sun beam through the cracks in the barn walls. It warms the space up and makes her sweat as she’s working. She hears the sounds of the farm, finds comfort in it while she puts away supplies and sweeps the floor. The sights, sounds, and smells calm her chaotic mind.

She thinks about him. She loves him, but they’ve been together for so long. Since they were 18. They’ve lost their way recently. Forgotten how to touch, talk, love. She wonders when in the hell he got so old. She’s sure she’s still 18. She thinks about the kids. They’re grown, and it’s just to the two of them now. Somehow they’ve lost their way. She misses him. Wishes for him. She hopes they will make it. It’s funny how life gets more complicated when the kids grow up. She thought it was supposed to get easier. She keeps sweeping, working.

With that last thought she looks up and sees him. He’s standing in the doorway of the barn. Sun surrounds him, and she can barely see his face. His body is in silhouette. She can see he has a simple bouquet of flowers in one hand. As he walks closer to her, he smiles, his sweet, perfect smile. She melts instantly, just like she did when she was younger. It makes her remember the reason that she’s always loved him. He  kneels in front of her and hands her the flowers. Daisies, her favorite. Around them they hear the sounds of the farm. They smell the heady aroma of the freshly harvested hay. She takes the flowers and his hand.  They giggle like the teenagers they used to be and head for the hayloft.