Chapter Text
Taj walked onto the porch of her small cottage home. It was a beautiful summer day and she had just finished washing her ginger locs. She had a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Sitting down, Taj opened her book and began reading.
Everything was calm and Taj enjoyed the quiet. She lived 30 minutes away from town in a cottage home that sat on 30 acres of land. Lani had 3 cats, 2 birds, 1 snake, 5 rats, and 5 guinea pigs. They all had their own spaces in her home and outside of it. She enjoyed the ‘off the grid’ lifestyle she lived.
Taj went into town 2x a week to stock up on important items but she grew her food and made her own products for the most part. Her home was hidden away from civilization and she loved it. Living off the grid was always a dream for her, especially since the prices of everyday items have increased exponentially.
Taj heard a commotion from inside her home, which wasn’t unusual because the animals loved to cause trouble. Putting her book down, Taj opened her door and found 2 of her cats on top of the counters. Her dog, Butterscotch was barking at them.
“Get down! You know better than to be on my counters boys,” she said to her cats. Button, her eldest cat, and Dumbo, her youngest one, quickly ran past her and to their hiding spots.
Taj petted Butterscotch and thanked him for alerting her about the two mischievous cats she harbored in her home. All of Taj’s pets were rescued. She found them, either on her land or they just appeared one day and never left. She saved Butterscotch and Button’s life, though. They were both young and without a mother. It was upsetting to see them so sad and cold so she took them in. They’ve been with her ever since.
Taj walked back to the front door, excited to get back to her book. Since it was summer, Taj spent a lot of time outside, enjoying the sun on her skin. Reading was a hobby of hers and her most recent hyperfixation. At the moment, she was reading a romance novel and she was hooked.
Stepping out of her front door, Taj looked at her book and noticed it had been closed.
‘Did I close it?’ she asked herself. Brushing it off, Taj walked to her chair and sat down. She looked around, making sure no one was near her. Opening her book, there was a bookmark and a note in between the page she was on.
It read: “You’re beautiful. I love your hair.”
Taj looked at the note and then looked around wildly. She hadn’t seen anyone drive by or anything for a long time. Taj pocketed the note and tried to focus on her book.
‘Maybe it’s a prank’ she thought. However, it didn’t feel like a prank. The note felt different and she was torn between taking the compliment and being freaked out to no end. Trying to brush off her thoughts, Taj opened her book and started reading. Soon, the eerie feeling in the back of her mind melted away as she got lost in her book.
After an hour, Taj put the book down and looked around. It was getting dark out and the once blazing humid heat turned low and dry. Taj brought her book and cup inside. Her pets were hanging around her living room, all of them in their spots. She gathered all of their food bowls and grabbed her supplies.
Taj had an assortment of food for her animals. From wet food, kibble, and dry food, to treats. You name it and she either has it or has tried it with her pets. Button and Dumbo got wet food while her middle-aged cat, Butterfly got dry food and extra medicine.
Moving on to Butterscotch's bowl, he loved chicken-flavored kibble with gravy and some raw meat. Her two birds got sweet berry seed food and their daily medicine. Her snake, Destiny, was already fed this week but Taj gave her a small treat anyway. All of her rats, Beefboss, Blueberry, Marmalade, and Marshmallow were given pellet food and some safe fruits and vegetables. All of her guinea pigs: Spice, Luna, Mocha, Onyx, and Silkie were given a forage blend and some cut-up vegetables.
Taj smiled at her masterpiece before laughing at herself. ‘I make better food for them than I do myself at times,’ she thought to herself.
Placing all of the bowls in their places, Taj called Butterscotch, Button, Dumbo, and Butterfly. She petted them each as they dug into their food. Then, she placed the bird’s bowls in their cages as well. Taj gave Destiny her treat and then placed the rest of the bowls on a tray for her guinea pigs and rats.
Her guinea pigs and rats had their own rooms, they cohabitated well but fought over food so she separated them in their cages when it was dinner time. Opening the door to her rat's room, she spoke to them as she let them out of their cages and placed their bowls down in their designated spot. Spots
She let her babies run around while she closed the door and went to her guinea pigs' room. They jumped around excitedly as she placed the food down in their designated bowls.
She petted them before leaving the room and cleaning up her kitchen. “Finally,” she said, “I can make my food now.” Taj walked over to her pantry and grabbed some vegetables she harvested the day before and the bread she made. She decided on some veggie sandwiches and homemade chips.
Chopping her vegetables, Taj turned on some music and enjoyed the sunset while she prepared her food. She always imagined her life this way. Alone, in her kitchen, cooking food and enjoying her life. Taj never imagined a man in her future and she was okay with that. Being alone gives her peace and she enjoys it.
Spreading some mayo and roasted garlic aioli on her bread, Taj carefully placed her vegetables, cheese, and toppings on her bread. She grabbed some of the homemade chips she had made the day before and placed them on her favorite plate. Plates
Taking her food back to her living room, Taj sat on her couch and turned on her TV. It was a small 42” tv but it didn’t matter to her as long as it served its purpose. She kicked up her feet and turned on her favorite show: Bojack Horseman. Taj could talk for hours about that show, it was amazing and she was glad she discovered it.
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After eating, Taj placed her plate in the sink and turned off her TV. It was around 9:30 pm and she was getting sleepy. She locked her doors and windows before walking to her bathroom.
She turned on her shower, stripped down, and placed her clothes in her hamper. She closed the door and stepped in. Taj loved how the steaming hot water felt on her skin.
Grabbing her soap bar, Taj lathered the soap in her sponge before gently scrubbing herself. Her mind went to another place when she showered. She let her mind drift and pictured her soul being cleansed as she washed the soap off her body.
Usually, Taj played music in the shower but today felt soft and soothing. She preferred the quiet tonight which was rare since music was her life but something about the solitude calmed her.
As she washed off her body, Taj thought back to the note she put in her pocket earlier. It creeped her out badly but the compliment was nice even if she didn’t know who it was. She hadn’t seen anyone come this way in a while but maybe it was a once-and-done prank or something.
Deciding not to put more brain power in, Taj forgot it and finished up her night. She did her skincare, turned on her air purifier, put on her favorite nightgown, and then snuggled into bed. She made sure all of her babies were good and well fed then she headed off to sleep.
She felt comfortable and safe like she did every night, however, something was lurking. Taj didn’t know it but she’d be meeting her secret admirer sooner than she imagined.