To the older Widow on the opposite side of the Village

Of course, you did not actually work at your family's farm. Oh no, there were plenty of able bodies available for such duties thanks to the abundance of brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins all working about the family farmstead. Rather, you took your experience and hard work ethic elsewhere to a much more deserving cause than being an extra set of hands on a crowded farm. Specifically, to the farmstead on the other end of town.

There, positioned on a hill overlooking the town was the Brightheart Farm. Once owned by the lovely Bovine couple; Torge and Annabelle, the farm belonging to Annabelle's family. It was a classic tale in the Village. The sought after farmer's daughter falling for the trader's son. They were smitten fast and married quickly. The marriage was celebrated in the Village and Torge moved to Annabelle's farmstead to assist her. Though the Bull was virile and his wife the image of beauty and womanhood, they sired no children in the years they spent together. Eight years came and went and the Kingdom was besieged. The men were called up in the towns and villages and Torge was taken up in the Militia, bidding his wife farewell and never returning. The same year you were born in fact. Annabelle was heartbroken and lived a widow for years. Her beauty faded as did her bright disposition, meekness and reserved emotion replacing what once was.

Even at a young age you heard of the Widow on the Hill, how lonely she lived and how many chose to leave her be. Even then you offered yourself to help her. Born and raised on a farm yourself you knew the work well. You did more than just help her aged and weathered farm however, you offered Annabelle that companionship she lived without for many years since her husband's ****. Bizarre as it was you were fast friends with the Cow thrice your age, both bringing happiness to the other. For as you grew older, your wants to be her friend shifted. You saw her in a different light. Where many saw a worn out and tired old widow, you saw a woman. One with so much more to offer than a first glance, someone who made you laugh, who's smile made a hard day's work worthwhile. Even having become as old as she had been you understood how Annabelle used to be the talk of the town. You were smitten by the older Cow. In-spite of having no chance at being with her, you maintained your friendship with her to this very day. Young and foolish yes but you valued your friendship too much to risk it by being anything more than just that.

You made your way through the village with practiced ease. Ducking and weaving through the market you picked up some fresh bread and well water to bring to the farmstead. Hurrying up the crooked pathway, through the rickety fence gate, and up to the aging farmhouse itself, you knocked on the faded door and let yourself in.

"Goodmoring Mrs. Brightheart!"