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Moiya found herself back home. She didn't understand how or why, but the fresh citrus smell from the acres of apple trees surrounding her family's farm was strong enough to make her believe it was true.
She stood atop a grassy knoll basking in the sun's brilliant beams. For a few blissful moments she enjoyed the sound of rustling leaves and swaying branches in the gentle breeze.
Her emerald eyes wandered from the bright blue sky to the wooden sign hanging above the gated entrance leading into the orchard. Black letters reading Marlune Farms gleamed in the sunlight.
This must be a dream or a memory...
Moiya placed her hand on an apple tree, her fingers tracing over the rough scaly bark.
But the texture feels so real.
"Auntie!"
Moiya turned, spotting her nieces and nephews running up the hill behind her. Following after the four children was Naviah, her older sister.
She wants me to look after her kids again, Moiya thought, her green gems studying her tired looking sibling with empathy.
"I have a gift for you," the youngest niece said, holding up a wilted sunflower in her tiny hands.
"That's so sweet of you, Vi," Moiya beamed, taking the flower and placing it into her braided hair.
"Kids," Naviah sharply interjected, her glaring jade eyes and tight lipped frown souring the mood like rotting fruit. "Go play in the field. I need to speak with your Auntie alone."
The children, sensing their mother's undercurrent of anger, scampered off down the hill. Once the kids were out of earshot, Naviah sighed and cradled her forehead in her hands.
"I hate being a Mom," she confessed in a low voice. "I hate that I had four children. I hate that Mom and Dad wanted me to marry and have kids at such a young age."
Moiya had heard her older sister vent her frustrations many times before, but the way she was speaking now was new.
Hate is such a strong word...
"I hate my life," Naviah lamented. "I wish I still had the freedom to travel and do whatever I want whenever I want like you."
"I look after your kids all the time," Moiya replied simply, keeping emotions from her tone. "If you need me to babysit more, I will. I don't want you to think like this."
"You're sweet for always helping me, but that's not what I'm getting at."
Naviah's face darkened a shade. "Do you honestly think Mom and Dad won't find out about your crush on Valor?"
Moiya stiffened.
"Do you really think they'll approve of you liking a man who used to be a woman?"
