After the net-crash I wandered a broken world; lost without purpose. With nowhere else to go I found myself a soldier yet again in an endless war, fighting for whatever side, I cared little which.
Maybe I had a death wish, maybe I thought I deserved it. To repent for a few choices that ended with a world of mistakes.
"Would've come true, if not for her." I thought, looking down at the photograph. "Irka..."
"How am I supposed to go on without you...?"
"Hey- what's with the mopin' around?" Said a voice from behind me, "Care for a beer?"
Margaret stood in the doorway, holding a six pack. "Just got done feedin' the cows, figured I'd take a load off." She said, letting herself in. "Thought maybe you'd wanna join me?" She smiled.
"I'll pass," I replied, "I still have to pick Zuzuka up from school."
She slung her arm around my shoulder, the smell of sawdust and liquor greeting my nose. "Ahhh you're no fun!" She teased, "Even parent's gotta relax every once in a while!"
"Keeps ya young!" She laughed.
"I'm fine, thanks." I replied, beginning to put the box away.
"Hm? What's that?" She asked, looking at the shard.
"It's nothing, something I picked up long ago-"
"Looks ancient." She replied, "Let me see it." She asked, holding out her hand.
I didn't see the harm in handing her the shard, despite its significance I never thought to look much into it. After the crash anything related to Bartmoss was better left alone...
"Hm, got an old buddy of mine that owns a computer shop; a Netrunner." She said, "Old gen stuff, maybe he can take a look."
"A Netrunner? Out here?" I asked, skeptical.
"He doesn't do much nowadays though," She replied, "Besides maybe scamming the local lottery." She chuckled. "He's cheap too-"
"I'll think about it-" I replied, storing the shard away. "For now, there's more work to be done..."
"The field again?" She asked, a look of pity in her eyes. "You're always out there Daniel, working endlessly."
"Good comes to those who work, Margaret-" I replied, "You at least kno-"
"But that field hasn't grown anything for years now-" She set down the six-pack, holding herself. "Maybe- it's time you threw in the towel."
"What are you getting at?" I asked, my back turned away as I gathered my equipment.
"I just- I could help you sell the land." She spoke, her voice sad yet honest. "I know Biotech-"
"NO." I replied sternly, "I bought this farm for Zuzuka, I would never sell her birthright." I spoke coldly, "Why even mention such a notion?"
"I know it's important to you;" She said, "But you and I both know it isn't worth the effort you're putting in..."
"Yes, it's clear I haven't put in "enough"." I said, looking back at her. "It's clear you've had a little too much to drink, talk to me when you're thinking straight." I said, beginning to step out the door.
"I'm not drunk Daniel!" She shouted, "Don't say that! You know I haven't been to rehab in 2 years!"
"...Yet you still drink." I replied.
"I- I just want to help!" She said, her eyes beginning to well up with tears. "You work day and night Daniel, even Zuzuka is beginning to see it!"
"What...?" I turned around, "Did she tell you that?" I asked.
"She misses her father, Daniel!" She cried, "I offered to help after Irka passed, but I'm not her mother!"
"After the field is done then what!?" She shouted, "Then what-? You won't even have a daughter to give it to!" She leaned against the workbench, her knees growing weak. "She- She needs her father."
I stood before her, silent. "A man works so he can keep working as a man." I said, heading for the door. "What I do, I do for her future. And I think it would be best if you stop seeing Zuzuka."
She looked up, as tears slid down her face. "Wait- That's not what I-"
"SLAM!"
Clouds silently drifted through the sky, casting large shadows along the cropless fields. Sweat dripped from my brow as I drove the tractor along the edge of the farm. I soon stopped, coming up on a large willow tree on the edge of a river.
"You're the only thing that ever grew in this field..." I thought, stepping out.
I walked up to the tree, running my hand along the trunk. "Look how you've grown. Not the little sapling anymore, hm?"
"Danill look! It's a willow tree!" Shouted a short-black-haired woman. "I've never seen one before-"
I made my way over, less than enthusiastic. "I hadn't noticed..." I said, sarcastically.
"Oh hush!" She replied, "You'd never find a tree like this back home!"
"No- back home is nothing but snow and ice." I said, taking a seat on a rock close by. "Closest we have to trees are broken telephone lines..."
"Exactly-" She said, "Coming out to the country was such a great choice- we can see all kinds of amazing new things!"
"...the tree?" I asked, questioning her sanity.
She plopped herself down next to me, "I think we should get it." She said, a sparkle in her eye.
"What?" I nearly choked, "We've been here not even 10 minutes!"
"It doesn't matter-" she said, looking outward. "Can't you see it? A barn there- A house over here- maybe even our own movie theater!"
"A movie theater?"
"Why not?" She replied, "I'm sure you could put a projector together- and with my amazing taste in film it would make for the perfect night in!"
"I- I don't know Irka..."
"Come on, it isn't just for us..." she took my hands, placing them on her stomach. "It's for her too..."
"..."her?"" I replied, "...you checked. Didn't you?" I said with disappointment.
She slunk down, "Sorry~ I couldn't help myself."
"I thought we promised we were going to let it be a surprise!" I said standing up.
"I know- I know-" She apologized, "Just pretend I didn't tell you-"
"Ha ha... A girl..." I laughed to myself. "We're having a girl..."
"Don't worry-" She said, getting up. "I'm sure you'll make a great papa..."
I wiped away some tears, taking her in my arms. "I promise, I'll never let anything happen to her..."
A tear slid down my cheek as I solemnly stared at the tree as it swayed gently in the autumn wind.
"Where did I go wrong..."
Out from the shadows a voice slithered into my ear; "The dream will once again end..." it softly said, "What will you awake to this time sweet dreamer...?"