Dancing in the Oaks

Trough

In the morning the roosters cock-a-doodle-dood, which is a sound that I love. After moving here I soon found that these sounds appealed to my ears. It was like my morning alarm clock that kept me in check with the daily schedule. I waited for my breakfast to cook by picking around on my fathers guitar. It dawned on me that I would never be able to play the guitar as good as Nick. Nick playing the guitar is more than music to my ears. He played and sang really well, in fact, more than well. My breakfast tasted pretty good. I'm not the best cook on this planet, but I do know how to cook French toast. If that is the one thing I actually know how to cook that is pretty good if I say so myself. I have to admit that is not the only thing I can cook. I know that statement did not make sense at all.

While sitting and slowly eating I realized that I never invited Nick over. I never invited him to come over today, yet he said he's coming over. He just invited himself over. That was not like him at all. He always asks if he can come over. I hope he is not coming over to ask about my past because I ain't giving him the full truth. Oak Ridge has been a new start for me. Maybe it's one of his weird surprises. I put on my bracelet. I realized that Nick gave me his grandmother's turquoise wrap bracelet. I hadn't worn it for a while because I couldn't stand getting it dirty. I wrapped that around my left wrist right above the metal one. They both flowed together perfectly.

One of my least favorite things to do on these 28 wonderful acres is none other than mucking stalls. When I went outside to muck stalls I put new feed in each of the designated areas. I filled up water in the troughs and began to quietly sing to myself. It felt as if I was being watched, turned around, nothing there. This was an all too familiar feeling that happened when the barn fire occurred. This feeling always made me feel uneasy. Despite going to an actual counselor for my PTSD I still have it. I do not like to talk about my experiences at the counselor, in fact, I never do. I don't even talk about it with Nick. It's just a sword in the side of me and when I talk about it that sword gets slowly pushed in further.

With the sun barely starting to peak above the hill I leaned against the barn and watched it rise. I felt arms wrapped around me causing me to scream. The arms were comforting, but nice at the same time. "What the?!" I yelled. I turned my head around and realized it was Nick. My heart dropped when I finally realized it was him. The stress was relieved and I knew what was happening now. It wasn't the fear of the unknown that was getting to my brain.

"Good morning my beautiful Norah." He said as his arms stayed wrapped around me. I felt his cowboy hat touch the top of my head. He sighed right next to my face."How you doin'?"

I felt a big smile span across my face. "Good morning Kentucky crazy cow Nick. I'm alright this mornin'. I was just mucking stalls. I've got six more to go, but I thought that I'd stop and soak up the sunrise." I have to admit that there is just something so unique about Tennessee sunrises. They are gorgeous.

"Great plan." He reached around and kissed me. "It's beautiful, but you're more beautiful."

I laughed. "Whatever you say." Goodness, he is so nice.

His eyes gazed out into the distance at the sunrise. "That was a compliment Norah!" He snapped back with strictness in his voice, almost sounding a little rude.

I kinda shied away and folded my arms. Ever since the accident I have not been able to take a joke. Loud noises or voices hurt me. It brought my stress all back. "Oh sorry. And thanks." I quietly said, hiding the tears.

He looked at me with his deep eyes with regret. "Oh I didn't mean to scare you like that. Sometimes I forget that you take things differently." He hugged me, but I just felt like I couldn't forgive him at the second.

A couple tears dripped down off of my cheek. "Yeah." I laughed. "It's okay. I guess I'm not the same as I was before."

"I have to be soft toned with you. I'm so sorry." He was truly sorry and I could tell he was.