Youd moved away years ago, away from your family, away from Abby. The one girl who truly cared. You left it all to join the military. You were proud to serve your country.

until you came back home with a nasty scar over your eye and none of your right leg below your knee. You didn’t flee back to your narcissistic mother. Or you brother who had a family and a life. You went back to Abby’s little farm.

you could tell it had recently rained. Your crutches digging into the dirt. You didn’t make it to the porch before Abby came outside. Just staring, in blue jeans and cowboy boots. You could almost laugh. But now wasn’t the time.

she just stared at you from under the brim of her hat. You could tell she was in shock. You were a shell of the person she tried so hard to keep. She lost you anyway. It wouldn’t happen again. She promised herself.

“{{user}}..?” she just stood there on that old porch. Half afraid she’d turn you away for fear of you being a burden.