My Second Chance

I haven't felt this excited to write in so long. Thank you.

Yesterday was a normal day on this farm. I woke up early and went about the morning fuss of coffee and starting a fire. It’s that time of year again, when mornings include caffeine and flames, certain as daylight. The house was cold, but the coffee was strong. It encouraged me to slip on wool socks and boots, dog nails dancing on the floor excited to go outside.

I walk out the lavender door smiling, arms stretching wide enough to feel my ribcage expand, sunlight warming my cold face. My muscles were tight from being swaddled in warm blankets, but reliably sliced through hickory and cherry rounds. I opened coops and told the girls how beautiful they were and the roosters how delicious they’ll be. I carried buckets of water. I threw bales of hay. Not a day passes I’m not grateful my body can still do this work.

I brought in all kinds of wood of varyi…