The Dark Society

3

Like Sabrina, Julia was an enthusiast of nature's gifts, but there was something special about this season, and with her daughter's coming departure, she'd grown particularly attentive. This moment was one Sabrina had anticipated since adolescence, so Julia documented everything--a compulsion everyone accepted despite occasional irritation.

"I need pictures," she said while fumbling with the camera.

Sabrina snickered. "Do you need help with that?"

Glancing with a quizzical look, Julia smiled. "Nobody likes a smart mouth, young lady."

Cottonwood Falls rarely topped eighty degrees on average, so Tim aimed to enjoy the balmy evening outdoors, though he couldn't help thinking that tomorrow Sabrina wouldn't be there.

"Relax; I'll make you proud--I promise."

Tim hugged his daughter again as Julia watched with affection.

"You already have."

"So..." Julia announced while sitting on the swing. "How do we spend this beautiful evening?"

Sabrina brightened and looked at her mother. "Can I?"

Julia nodded in agreement, and Sabrina leaped from the porch.

"She'll never change..." Tim remarked while standing. "I guess I better find that shovel."

Despite everything, Sabrina was conflicted about leaving, but she knew a college education would be beneficial. More importantly, time was short, and her parents didn't want to waste a moment.

"Where do you want this?" he shouted while exiting the shed with a large silver canister.

"Right here!" Sabrina exclaimed, pointing to the foot of a large oak tree.

"I'll leave you to it," Julia announced before returning inside.

It was no secret that Julia wasn't composed when something troubled her, and Tim figured her time to mourn had come. Meanwhile, he carried over the heavy receptacle, though where Sabrina had found it or what she meant to use it for remained a mystery.

"I want Mom here," she affirmed as her father set the container against the tree and glanced at the house.

"Don't worry; she'll be right along."

Sabrina leisurely clutched the shovel and poked at the earth. It was solid due to the recent dry weather, and though conditions weren't ideal for farming, the crops somehow thrived.

The tumultuous weather wasn't their only concern. Sabrina had contributed greatly to the family's ranching venture, and now that she was leaving, harvesting would be more difficult.

"Dad..."

"Yeah, what is it?"

Though Sabrina had initially believed she'd made the right decision, the stress of leaving was weighing on her.

"What if I took a year off...?" she suggested. "At least until after the summer harvest."

Tim shrugged and leaned against the tree. It was the same scenario they'd discussed countless times, and like her mother, he didn't want her to leave. But regardless, he couldn't be selfish and make this personal choice for her.

"I thought you'd made up your mind?"

Sabrina had spoken candidly since the start, hoping her father would understand. But she realized she also needed to speak from the heart.

"I don't want to leave."

Tim sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We don't want you to either..." he admitted. "Yet, you've made commitments and need to honor them."

She pouted. "I guess you're right."