Artemis was on the back of the Belgian draft horse, now known as Peaches. Granted it was terrifying. The horse seemed to be almost twice the height of its rider. Artemis sighed, urging the horse forward sighing contently. It wasn't so scary, granted the horse was on a lead but it was a start. Eventually, Sam took off the lead letting Artemis take control. breathing slowly as they rode the large creature. As they got used to it a free feeling started to blossom in their chest. They took their time riding and getting used to... being up high for once. And moving. The moving was a bit harder to get used to.

By the time Artemis felt at home, it was time to dismount, which was a whole new struggle for the five-foot-one rider. They were almost certain they'd land on their ass, but thankfully didn't, thanks to Sam's help.

Artemis helped Sam with the horse best they could which mostly consisted of petting Peaches. 

Before long Artie was headed back to the house they now lived at with their dad, sighing softly, everything was going to take time. But they at least had a little relief, one fear at a time. Build trust back up with the world. Yes just to have it ripped away again. An intrusive thought pressed like a hot iron rod in their mind. They forced it out swallowing and took a deep breath. No. I won't let it happen again.

-_-_-_-

A week passed. Artemis was settled in their bedroom, trying to keep their mind off the world music playing as they relaxed. Hozier's melodic voice filled their room keeping them from feeling too alone as their dog huffed next to them. The dog was a beagle, looking at their owner in exhaustion. "Don't look at me like that, fluff butt." Artie sighed closing the laptop and yawned looking over at the dog, Dixie. "You don't get to be judgy. You lick your own ass." they scoffed and got up stretching, heading for the door. Before they reached the door the dog not so gracefully faceplanted into the door with a loud thump. "You are not a bright dog." They sighed and shook their head heading downstairs at last.

They ruffled their hair gently, a few days ago they decided to start going back to long hair, maybe it was time to go back to long hair after years. As they made their morning meal they sighed slightly noticing an envelope on the counter from their dad's cousin who owned the farm addressed to them.

They cringed a bit at the liberal use of female pronouns but sighed, it was work and boy did it pay well. Maybe work there for a while and then maybe go to Ireland and get away from this mess for a bit.

They took a bite of their food before calling the number to accept the job offer.

-_-_-_-

It wasn't easy work, to say the least, but as time went on, Artie found themself starting to enjoy it, along with getting to ride the horses more often. They still spoke to their ex-fiance. They still loved them, and they were still good friends. It was still painful and heartbreaking. But Artemis managed to find new friends as well through the heartbreak. 

A few days after working at the farm they froze staring at a group chat they were in with their ex-fiance. Engagement rings. The caption obviously wasn't meant to be for them to see but it hurt never the less. 

Ethan and I like these ones.

Rage immediately boiled up, hurting. They wanted to comment... they wanted to tell them to suck a dick, to fuck themself, to just go away, everything. But they didn't. Artie backed out feeling sick to their stomach and angry. Furious. So they took it out on the barn. Working hard on making it spotless.

After they did and had blisters on their hands, they sat down roughly before turning to their new friends, telling them how replaced and helpless they felt in the moment. It didn't feel like they had meant anything to start with. They knew Ethan. And their ex-fiance was already moving on with their other partner it seemed without care to how their own relationship ended.

All the pain in their chest and heart bubbled up and they doubled over sobbing desperately, shaking. Everything hurt. Everything was wrong. And they were lost.

They ended up talking to their ex-fiance, telling them how they felt, making the rift worse it seemed. But now they were sighing softly ruffling their hair, praying they could go on their trip before too much longer. They needed space to think.