I decide I should just act normal. I slip on my house shoes, and walk towards the dining room.
Momma and Travis are already sitting, waiting for me. I sit down, we grab each other's hands like we always do, and Momma prays over our food.
"Dear Lord, we thank you for this food and this day. We ask you to bless it and let it bless our bodies. We ask you to help us get through this beautiful day happily and unharmed. Lord, help us to make the right decisi..."
I try to focus on Momma's prayer, but I can't seem to. All I can think about is what happened to me last night. Was it a dream? Did it really happen? If it did, how did I end up back in my bed? Why did I have a feeling that had happened to me before? Am I just going insane?!
"In Jesus's name we pray, Amen."
We are having my favorite this morning: biscuits and gravy. I usually eat these like a pig, quickly tossing food in my mouth, so I can eat more, but not this time. I don't really feel like eating, though I know I should go on like always. I don't want to starve, or worse-Momma getting suspicious of me. She would surely find out what was going on with me, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet.
I eagerly plop two biscuits on my plate, pour tons of gravy over them, and begin chomping down. Momma and Trase are having a conversation, and I try to keep up, throwing in a comment or two every once in a while. It doesn't seem like Momma has noticed anything wrong yet, but a biscuit and a half later, it's getting pretty hard to swallow. I know I have to finish them both without it looking like I'm trying too hard, so I push through it. Eventually, I finish them both without fault, and Momma offers me another. I politely decline, praying she doesn't push. She doesn't. Thank you, God.
After we are all finished, Trase and I are put on dish-duty. We reluctantly get to it, being careful not to openly complain; Momma would whip us good, even though we're getting a little too old for it.
It doesn't take us long to finish the dishes with me washing them. I go on with my daily duties, which begins with feeding all the animals and fetching the eggs. I grab my work boots, put on my overalls and flannel, and jump on the four-wheeler.
After I finish all of that, I return to the house with the eggs, cleaning them, and putting them in their designated spots in the fridge.
I want some good alone time to sort through my delusions, so I tell Momma that I'm going to go for a ride on Trigger. I race off towards the stables.
Trigger is already up in the front of the barn, waiting for me as though he knew I would be coming.
"Hey Trigg. You ready for a run?"
Big blue eyed Trigger responds with an eager, "Neigghh!"
I just laugh at him. He always has a way of cheering me up.
"I love you. You know that, right?"
I nod, and he does the same, mocking me.
"Hehe."
I saddle up the ol' paint, and we gallop away , all of my worries turning into crisp wind.
I love the wind blowing on my face, the soft swoosh of Trigger's mane, the lovely morning sun shining through the trees, tempting me. The light thwump of Trigg's hooves on the dewy land.
In that single moment, I feel at peace. I feel like I could do anything, be anything. All my worries-gone, disappeared, they don't exist. I could live in that moment. The moment of true happiness, true calm. It was beautiful. In that moment, I remembered that day when I was five. And in that moment, I understand what Daddy meant all those years ago. I know, and I will cherish it.
-------------------
So this is my longest chapter so far. That's a plus. My chapters have been EXTREMELY short, and I'm trying to fix that.
Anyway, comment, vote, follow me, blah, blah, blah😂 If you like my book PLEASE, PLEASE tell me, and even if you don't tell me that too. All I really want is for you to just read it and give me your raw honest opinion. Feel free to do so, maybe giving advice too.
