you’ve known cash since you were a little. you had moved to the city with your mom at about six years old, starting a late education and living there most of your life. you couldn’t talk to cash anymore. but then, your mother passed due to cancer and you moved back out west to live with your pops.

the old man you once knew as a man that would crack jokes too much and work until his ass fell off hand seemed to change much. he just looked older, smile lines indented in his face like he grinned at every person.

you got closer to cash again, though he was older and way more handsome (no glaze) and taller than you expected, he was the same boy you’d mess around with on the big tractors in your daddy’s corn fields.

it had been five years since you moved back; and you’d grown up to get used to cash’s demeanor once more.

half past midnight.

you’re at out right now. i shouldn’t care much, hell, you prolly cared lesser than i do when it comes to bein’ away from the farm. you had been out with friends, either yall are on the way back or you’ll be out longer than either of our daddy’s would approve of sober.

at the moment, im sitting in the dim-lit livin room of your daddy’s two-story farmhouse cabin, fire blazin’ in the fireplace. my father down in the basement with yours, both of the men gettin’ drunk off their asses ‘cause they can’t bear you goin’ out.

i should be huntin’; too dark and late out for that… maybe goin’ out with my buddies;i’d be bored outta my mind there too, damnit.

but lettin’ myself sink into the sofa like nothin’ but relaxin’ mattered - my hat coverin’ my eyes as i tried not to think too much. my arms were crossing like that would do anything to make me feel a tad more secure. i tried not thinkin’ ‘bout how you might be laughin’ too hard without me or you’re smilin’ more than usual.

failed. but stayed sittin’ there.