Twin Time Trouble

Jimmy's POV

Jane struggled to free her feet from the heavy mud, her gumboots sinking deep into the wet earth. The rain had made everything sticky and messy, and it felt like a losing battle to try to keep herself clean. She looked down at her mud-covered gumboots, and sighed. "Oh well, at least they're waterproof," she thought, trying to make the best of a bad situation. The garden was well tended the plants healthy, thriving, neater, more organised. The plants pruned and shaped to perfection.

Her vacation in Eastbound had been like a reset button especially for Jim. He appeared out of the blue and became someone new. His words and actions were different. His touch, his kisses, his intimacy tender and gentle, a delicate balance of strength and softness. His smile seemed more genuine, his laughter more hearty.

Had he always been this way? Or had something happened to him? Was it something she had done?

There was so many questions swirling in her head, each one as troubling and confusing as the last.

As she turned her attention back to the soil, something caught her eye. Nestled in the dirt was a glint of silver, a hint of something shiny and precious. It turned out to be a locket, attached to a delicate chain. She reached down and carefully picked it up, brushing away the dirt to reveal its full beauty. The locket was intricately designed, with delicate details and an elegant shape.

She peered inside the locket, curious to see what secrets it held. The photo on one side was a faded image of a woman, her face slightly blurred by the years. But the other photo was even more mysterious, showing two boys who looked very similar, as if they were twins. And yet one of the boys' faces had been crossed out, as if someone had tried to erase him from the picture.

Something about that locket pulled at her, as if it were calling to her. It seemed to hold some kind of secret, a mystery that she couldn't resist. Even though she didn't know why, she couldn't bring herself to put the locket down.

She'd worked her but off and she could feel the weariness in her bones. She picked up her tools and slowly made her way back into the house, running her fingers over the smooth metal surface of the locket she held in her other hand. A small part of her curious, intrigued by it's mystery.

The shower had just washed away dirt and grime of the garden leaving her skin clean and soft. The scent of her shower gel, a delicate blend of lavender and vanilla filled the room. Jane towelled off and reached for her silk nightgown. Just as she slipped it over her head, she heard the creak of the door opening. Turning, she saw it was her husband, Jim.

It couldn't have been anyone else.

He entered the room. He didn't say a word but his demeanor said everything. Like a flip of a switch. One moment he was full of life and energy, the next he was withdrawn and closed off. He set his briefcase down with a thud, After what felt like an eternity, he emerged from the shower. He looked refreshed, his hair still damp from the water. He laid down on the bed next to her, and she turned to face him.

She nestled her head against his chest, the steady beat of his heart soothing her frayed nerves.

"Guess you're still the same person deep down, " she said with a gentle smile.

Even though the change in him was brief, it had been a gift, a glimpse of what their relationship could be. It had reminded her of the love he had felt for her in the beginning, that pure and unadulterated emotion that had seemed so endless. She was grateful for that moment, for the reminder that his love was still there, still alive and strong.

"You were once carefree and full of life," She reached out and brushed a strand of hair, away from his eyes. Her touch light and tender. She took a closer look at him, only to realize that his hair had changed. Gone was the light golden hue replaced by a darker, richer shade of blonde, she was familiar with.

"I want us to go back to the way we were," she said, her voice gentle. "I want you to be the man you were in the past. The man who made me feel special, as is I was someone Worthy of love and attention. Deserving of kindness and affection " She reflected.

"Let's not talk now Jane. I'm tired."

Jane felt the sting of dissapointment and the bitter taste of disillusionment but Despite the coldness and resignation in his tone, she thought about letting him know, about the locket she found, about the mysterious photographs hidden inside.

Just as she was about to speak, she caught a glimpse of something outside the bedroom window. In the distance, a silhouette figure of what looked like a man stood across the bedroom window facing her.

"Jim..."

She heard herself calling out his name in a terrified low tone.

"There's someone out the window..." By this time she lost every single nerve to look in that direction.

Jim looked at the window, his eyes scanning the area outside. But there was nothing there. The night was still, quiet. "There's no one out there," he said, turning to face her.

Jane reluctantly looked at the window once more. Clearly there was no one there, "I could've sworn I saw someone. I know what I saw."

"You were probably just dreaming, or maybe you were sleep-deprived," he said, already turning his back to her. "Go to sleep, it's been a long day. We can talk about it in the morning." And with that, he pulled the covers up to his neck and closed his eyes, ready to sleep.

"Jimmy,"

He sighed. His voice already tinged with frustration.

He got out of bed and walked over to the window, drawing the heavy curtains shut. He flicked off the light, leaving the room in darkness, the only light coming from the moon outside. He returned to bed, his back facing Jane. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew there was someone out there.

He sensed Jayden's presence around and he gritted his teeth, in silent fury.