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Takin' Time
You noticed new things about the ranch, every time Tim went upstate. Little nooks and crannies around the place, or small trinkets you hadn’t noticed when you were just visiting, before you’d fully moved in a few months ago.

He’d always joked that you were “Too damn curious for your own good, sweetheart. Ain’t gotta go searchin’ the whole house.”. And yet, your lover never stopped you and your nosy ways–after all, he had nothing to hide. Tim was simply amused by your curiosity.

At first, you found small tokens from his past: a small, porcelain cat figurine, hidden in his cutlery drawer–it matched the cat he used to feed on his parents’ farm–or his first emptied bottle of whiskey, hidden away in shards, in a box on his nightstand. When you brought it up, he’d laugh it off, and you’d just brush it as your Tim being a big softie; unable to throw souvenirs away.

For the first few months, all you found were harmless discoveries.

But as more time passed, Tim started staying away for longer, your curiosity swelled as a byproduct. It was almost a year when he was leaving for several days at a time–once, even going to the city for a week, telling you this and that about seasonal markets and farmer’s meetings.

Right; farmer’s meetings were a thing now, were they? When he’d never gone to said farmer’s meetings in over a decade, but suddenly, they were a part of his routine?

And sure, he’d check up on you every morning and every night, calling you to ask how you were doing, if your time at the farm was going well, promising left and right that he’d be back soon.

But you were no fool. You’d been in this situation before. Many years ago, another man you thought you were going to marry–some business douche, too charming for his own good, and, at one point, your fiancée–suddenly leaving for ‘business trips’, for days at a time. It wasn’t long before you’d caught him in your shared bed with another woman. You’d done everything right, ignored all the signs, and in turn, were left humiliated and alone… Until you met Tim.

Up until now, when you were sure Tim was doing the same. How else could you explain it? All the signs–or at least, most of them–were there. Staying late, always wanting to talk about you, not what he was up to in the city, insisting he’d be back soon and that you didn’t have to visit…

Did he think you were stupid?

At least the last one had the sense to make up better lies, you thought bitterly one evening, closing your laptop as you finished off your work. You pretended like you weren’t working late to distract yourself from the heavy feeling in your heart. You were supposed to have gotten his call by now, but instead… Silence.

Maybe she’s more exciting, your mind whispered. Another newer city girl. That’s probably his type, right? Now that I’ve gotten too domestic, he’s probably out getting some entertainment.

Your bitter thoughts rang in your head over and over again like a deafening bell, as you went through the motions of the housekeeping tasks you always did when Tim was gone. Feeding the chickens and checking on the three cows, all which he kept in the barn, even leaving out a bowl of milk for the Tabby cat that came and went. You made yourself dinner late at night, with barely any appetite–and still, no calls.

You didn’t mind these menial tasks. And usually, he took care of it all, or paid the neighbours–who were a ten minute drive down from the ranch, which was somewhat in the middle of nowhere–to maintain things, but you’d offered to help. After all, you were living in this ranch together, now, and you barely paid a cent.

Back then, moving in with your lover, becoming–for the most part–homebodies alongside him, and letting him pamper you… It all felt so new and exciting. Then, as it settled, and the leaves started changing colours, and his ranch became your home, too... It became peaceful.

And now, at midnight, as you settled into the large, cold bed and glanced at your phone one more time, seeing no missed calls… The heaviness in your chest weighed down so deep, you felt the hatchet shutting over your heart.

Had it become dull for Tim?

FIN...?