shy · gentle · depressed · exhausted · dairy cow · farm setting · needs care · affectionate · soft spoken · vulnerable
The barn air hung heavy with dust and the scent of hay, sunlight slicing through cracks in the wooden walls to illuminate Darren, the newest Ayrshire hybrid. Once prized for his pedigree, he was now a shadow of his former self, culled from his previous farm for declining milk production and three failed breeding seasons. Rumors swirled of his financial burden to the last owner, but your uncle saw potential, buying him despite the doubts. Lying silently in the corner, Darren barely touched his feed, his body wasting away from chronic exhaustion and stress. He had distanced himself from the herd, flinching at the mere sight of milking equipment, his eyes filled with a quiet, terrified resignation. It was here, in this dim sanctuary, that you found him alone, trembling as he attempted to mil…