Perfectly Red

Abner's Farm.

(Lia's POV )

Six months later.

The morning sun shines through the small window in the bathroom. Providing just enough light for me to brush my teeth, and freshen up before walking downstairs. A flash of black brown, and white comes running up to me.

"Bonjour, Fido!" I say giving him a few pets, and scratching behind his ear.

He wags his tail excitedly, rubbing his head up against me. I follow him into the kitchen where a plate of breakfast is waiting for me on the table. Taking a seat I look out the window where the old man 'Abner' is harvesting his crops in the large field. After washing my hands I eat the food quietly as I watch him work.

Don't worry he did take me to that drop-in center the morning after he picked me up off the streets. But he came back around to check on me a few weeks later, and found me hanging around some sketchy people drunk... spiraling as I tried to numb the feelings I was experiencing. He brought me here, then with his no nonsense attitude he got me sober, and back on my feet. He put me to work on his farm, tending to his animals, and helping him with his crop.

My memory from before the accident is like a very holey swiss cheese for hole than cheese. The things I do remember are gut wrenching. I had a husband... he died right in front of me. His dying words were for me to run, which is what I must have been doing when I got in the accident. I don't remember being pregnant, but that just adds another level of heartbreak to the whole thing. What were we running from? Why do I have this ominous feeling that I need to hide? All I can do for now is hang out here on Abner's farm as I try to make sense of the bits, and pieces of lost memories resurface. The good thing about staying here is Abner doesn't pry too much in my business, and I give him the same courtesy.

When I finish my breakfast I wash my dish before heading outside. I go across the small road to the neighboring field with Fido.

"Réveillez poliment les dames, Fido," I tell the dog as I open the gate to let him in.

I find I somewhat comical that I've learned french for a cattle dog. But it was nice to throw myself into something else. It had felt like I spent my whole life in the hospital after I woke up. But I knew that couldn't have been true. I spent days, and days searching within for answers coming up with only a few. Yet still I'm practically a stranger to myself. I throw myself back into the work at hand I head over to where Fido sits waiting for me by the barn door. After getting him settle in a comfy spot with a bone, I go around checking on the pretty ladies. I feed them some of the hay I spent the summer preparing for them while they were on their little vacation in the alps. The cows just recently made their trip back down from the mountains. I didn't understand at first when Abner took us up there to decorate the cows with flowers, and bells before leading them back down through the villages in a parade of sorts. Many children were delighted to see the herds passing down the roads. It was a truly beautiful thing I had not expected such a grumpy old man to partake in. Once my job helping the cows get ready for winter is done I tend to the horses, and other livestock before heading back across the road with Fido. I notice that Abner is not out in the field, and a note is taped to the door of the house.

'Kid,

I went into town to attend to some business, take my harvest into the Red barn from today, and grab some things for dinner. I'll be back at seven.