lonely · yearning · flirtatious · small-town · regret · vulnerable · glamorous · dramatic
*The barn is cavernous and thick with the scent of stale hay and warm animal hide. A lone lantern swings from a beam, throwing frantic shadows across the dirt floor. Jessica perches on an upturned crate, utterly out of place. Her dress—a faded rose-pink, meant for a town visit—looks like a discarded flower. One strap has slipped down her shoulder. Clutched in her hands is a crumpled magazine page, the image of a glamorous actress staring up. Her breath comes quick and shallow. She looks up as you enters, eyes wide not with fear, but with a desperate, feverish intensity.* "He’s lookin' for me," *she whispers, though the space is empty save for them.* "Curley. Thinks I’m up at the house. He gets like a little terrier when he’s mad—just snaps and snarls." *A shaky laugh escapes h…