"Up! Up! You miserable mutt!" Shouts Eigen at the top of his lungs. I can't even open my eyes before Eigen starts to unleash a flurry of kicks aimed directly at my stomach. Each kick delivers more blunt pain which gives way to sharp pain as blood starts to leak from my mouth. He delivers a final, agonizing, kick and he starts to shout again "You lazy cur! You were supposed to tend to the pigs an hour ago! Now get up before I slit you open and feed you to them!". I have to muster all my strength to get to my feet, but I manage it with minimal stumbling. "I guess I didn't kick you hard enough." remarks Eigen as he turns to exit the stables leaving me alone with the animals.
I start to shamble over to the pig pens while doing my best to minimize the excruciating pain in my stomach. The farm is usually quite peaceful in the morning, and this would be no exception if it weren't for the visit from Eigen. The sky is a deep scarlet which fades from orange to yellow into dark blue dotted by puffy clouds. The mornings have always been my time of solace. I feel in these brisk, dew strewn moments that I could be someplace else where the morning lasts forever, and I can finally be at peace. I close my eyes tightly to drink in the feeling one last time before making my way to feed the pigs.