Cowboys in the Twilight Zone

"Isabel, I have something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Cam?" Isabel looked up from her sewing. She was mending the leg of Cam's trousers. It had been a hard day at the ranch and he'd torn his pants on a fence post.

Cam sat down next to her and took her hand in his. "I'm not sure how to say this so I'll just come right out with it," he began, staring hard at the floorboards. "I'm not real."

"What do you mean you're not real, dear? You're here with me now aren't you?" Isabel said, confused. "We've been married for years now."

"Yes, we've been married for years and we've always lived in Texas, but that's not what I meant. What I meant was... well... I don't exist." Tears streamed down Cam's face and he couldn't bring himself to look at Isabel anymore. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed quietly. He felt her arms wrap around him as she held him close to her bosom. She stroked his hair and whispered calming words in his ear until he finally regained control of himself again.

"There there," she cooed softly as she put a hand under his chin and lifted his head so their eyes could meet again. "There is nothing you can tell me that will make me love you any less than I do."

---

Isabel had made the most delicious stew for supper that night and they were both enjoying a cup of coffee after they ate their fill when Cam brought up their earlier conversation again.

"I want to show you something," he said taking her hand and leading her through the house into their bedroom where he opened up his closet door and pulled out a wooden box. He placed the box on the bedside table and opened it up. Inside was a laptop computer and an array of cables including one that was plugged into an outlet in the wall nearby. This is where Isabel drew the line.

"No!" she shouted angrily pulling away from Cam, who remained calm despite her outburst, "I don't care what your explanation is for why you think this makes sense! This is our home! We are people! You are my husband!" she protested as tears began streaming down her cheeks as well. "I don't want to hear anymore about this madness! Do you understand?"

Cam sighed heavily and chose not to touch her for fear it would create more conflict. He respected her need for distance while she processed the information he had shared during their conversation earlier by the fire. It had been a difficult evening for both of them, as they struggled to comprehend the reality of their situation.

---

Isabel paced back and forth for nearly twenty minutes straight until finally collapsing onto all fours on top of the bed sobbing uncontrollably.

Cam watched from afar helplessly, unable to intervene due to the tension between them. He remained silent throughout her emotional turmoil, which eventually resulted in Isabel falling asleep from sheer exhaustion. She lay atop their bedspread with tears still streaming down her cheeks, clutching one corner of the blanket tightly against her side. Curled into a fetal position facing away from him, her soft whispers were filled with hope that everything would be alright, that they would find a way through this challenging time together.

And so, in spite of their fears and uncertainties, life continued for them both, holding onto the belief that love and understanding would guide them through even the darkest of times. {END}