The soft Tennessee sun filtered through the trees, casting golden rays across the yard. The air was thick with the scent of honeysuckle and freshly tilled earth. From her porch, Lila could see the rolling hills in the distance, gentle and green, where her husband, Ben, worked tirelessly in the fields. She rocked slowly in her chair, trying to calm her restless thoughts, but nothing seemed to help.
For weeks now, a dark cloud had settled over her heart. It wasn't the kind of worry that came with the hard times they'd lived through before—dry seasons, broken tractors, or poor crops. No, this was different. This was something she couldn't fix with her hands or her hard work. This fear had a name.
Jolene.
The very thought of her name sent a chill down Lila's spine. She was everything Lila wasn't—young, vibrant, with hair the color of autumn leaves, and eyes the shade of emeralds. She had a smile that could melt hearts and a laugh that echoed like music across town. Men stopped in their tracks when she passed by, and women whispered her name behind their hands, both in awe and in warning.
And now, it seemed, Ben had caught her attention.
Lila clenched her hands in her lap, her knuckles white. It wasn't as if Ben had said anything outright. He wasn't the type to talk about his feelings much, not with words. But Lila knew her husband, knew the way he'd grown distant lately, his mind always somewhere else even when he was right beside her. There were nights he'd lay beside her in bed, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours, lost in thought. And though Lila had asked, though she'd tried to reach him, there was only silence.
But she had seen them together, once.
It had been by accident, of course. She'd been walking into town, heading for the general store to pick up a few things, when she'd spotted them—Ben and Jolene—standing by the fence that lined Jolene's property. They weren't touching, not even close, but there was something in the air between them, something electric, something that made Lila stop dead in her tracks and turn away before they could see her.
She'd walked home in a daze, her heart heavy with a fear she hadn't known she was capable of feeling.
Now, sitting on the porch, Lila watched the shadows lengthen as the day crept towards evening. She couldn't avoid it any longer. She couldn't pretend that everything was fine, that it would blow over. She had to do something.
And there was only one thing she could think of.
Lila stood, smoothing her dress with trembling hands. She knew where she had to go. Jolene's house was just a short walk through the woods, nestled at the edge of town like a secret. Lila had never had a reason to visit before. She'd always kept her distance, like everyone else, but now it seemed there was no avoiding it.
The walk felt longer than usual, her heart pounding with each step. The sun had dipped lower, and the woods were cool and quiet, the only sound the crunch of leaves beneath her feet. As she neared Jolene's house, she could hear faint music floating through the trees—Jolene's guitar, no doubt, the notes light and haunting.
When she reached the small clearing where the house sat, she paused for a moment, taking it all in. Jolene's place was simple, a little run-down, with ivy creeping up the sides and wildflowers blooming haphazardly around the yard. There was a warmth to it, a sense of untamed beauty, much like Jolene herself.
Lila gathered her courage and walked up to the porch. Before she could knock, the door opened, and there she was—Jolene.
She was even more beautiful up close, if that were possible. Her red hair caught the fading sunlight, shimmering like fire, and her green eyes—those eyes—met Lila's with a quiet intensity. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Lila felt like a child, standing before a queen in all her glory, but she didn't let herself falter.
"I—" Lila's voice caught in her throat, and she swallowed hard, trying again. "I need to talk to you."
Jolene said nothing at first, just watched her with those sharp, unreadable eyes. Then, with a nod, she stepped aside and gestured for Lila to come in.
The inside of the house was just as Lila had imagined it—cozy, with worn furniture and shelves lined with books and knickknacks. A guitar leaned against the wall near a window, where sunlight streamed in, illuminating the room with a soft, golden glow.
Jolene motioned for Lila to sit, and she did, though her hands were still trembling. Jolene sat across from her, crossing her legs and waiting, patient as ever.
Lila took a deep breath. "I know about you and Ben."
The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Jolene's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—regret, perhaps, or understanding. She didn't deny it.
"I'm not here to blame you," Lila said quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know how things happen. And I know how men can be. But… I love him. I've loved him for a long time, and I just—I can't lose him, Jolene. I can't."
Her voice broke then, and she looked down at her hands, feeling foolish, small. But she couldn't stop now. "I'm not like you," she continued. "I'm not beautiful, or young, or… I don't have the kind of charm you do. I've worked hard all my life, and Ben and I, we've built something together. I know it might not seem like much, but it's everything to me. He's everything to me."
Jolene was silent for a long moment, her gaze steady, thoughtful. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, almost gentle.
"You think I don't know what that feels like?" she asked. "To love someone so much it hurts?"
Lila looked up, surprised. She hadn't expected that, hadn't thought Jolene could understand. But there was something in her eyes now, something vulnerable, something that made Lila realize Jolene wasn't as untouchable as she seemed.
"I didn't mean for it to happen," Jolene said quietly, her fingers twisting in her lap. "I didn't mean to come between you two. But Ben… he's different. He makes me feel like maybe I don't have to be alone all the time. Like maybe I deserve something more."
Lila's heart clenched at that, a sharp pang of empathy cutting through her. She hadn't thought about what Jolene's life must be like, always on the outside, always the subject of whispers and glances. It excused nothing, but it made her seem more human, more real.
"I don't know what to do," Lila admitted, her voice trembling. "I just—please, Jolene. I'm begging you. Don't take him from me."
Jolene's eyes softened, and for the first time, she reached out, placing a hand over Lila's. Her touch was warm, steady.
"I'm not trying to take him," Jolene said softly. "But I'll let him go."
Lila stared at her, unable to believe what she was hearing. Relief flooded through her, overwhelming and bittersweet. She wanted to thank Jolene, wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.
Jolene stood, pulling her hand back. "You should go," she said quietly, her eyes distant now, as if she were already moving on, already letting go.
Lila nodded, standing on shaky legs. She made her way to the door, pausing only once to look back at Jolene, who stood by the window, bathed in the fading light, a figure both beautiful and tragic.
As Lila stepped outside, the cool evening air wrapped around her like a balm, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a weight lift from her chest. The road ahead wouldn't be easy, and she knew there would be more to face with Ben, but for now, she had hope.
She had hope that love, in all its flawed and complicated forms, could still be enough. And as she walked home, the sun setting behind her, Lila knew one thing for sure:
She would fight for it.