The next morning, Rosalie woke before dawn, the sky still dark, and the air cool with the crispness of early fall. She dressed quickly, slipping into her worn boots and flannel shirt before stepping out onto the porch. The scent of dew-covered grass greeted her, mingled with the familiar earthiness of the farm.
Her feet carried her down the dirt path, past the barn, and into the fields that stretched beyond the house. She had walked this path a thousand times before, each step a part of her daily routine, but today the land felt different. The weight of Elias' words lingered in her mind—about selling, about moving on, about a future she hadn't yet dared to imagine.
Rosalie stopped at the edge of the field and crouched down, her fingers brushing against the dry soil. The earth beneath her nails had once felt like hope—rich, fertile, and full of potential. Now, it felt like a burden, heavy and unforgiving.
She gazed out at the crops, their growth stunted by months of poor weather. The fields that had once thrived under her father's care now stood as a stark reminder of how much had changed. No matter how hard she worked, the farm seemed to be slipping through her fingers.
Her mother's voice echoed in her mind, words from years ago when they had worked the fields side by side. "This land will give back what you put into it, Rosie. You just have to nurture it, believe in it."
But what if nurturing it wasn't enough anymore?
Rosalie's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned to see Will approaching, his hands shoved into his pockets, his face etched with quiet concern. He stopped beside her, offering a small, comforting smile.
"Figured I'd find you out here," he said, his voice soft. "You always come to the fields when you're thinking."
Rosalie straightened, brushing the dirt off her hands. "I couldn't sleep," she admitted. "Everything feels… overwhelming."
Will nodded, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "I heard Elias is back. Can't imagine that's been easy."
"He wants to sell the farm," Rosalie said, the words bitter on her tongue. "He thinks it's the only way forward."
Will looked at her, his brow furrowed. "And what do you think?"
Rosalie sighed, her chest tightening with uncertainty. "I don't know. Part of me wants to fight for this place, to find a way to make it work. But another part of me knows that maybe Elias is right. The farm isn't thriving, and I can't keep pretending that everything's fine."
Will was quiet for a moment, his eyes thoughtful. "It's not wrong to want more, Rosie. But it's also not wrong to want to stay. You just have to figure out which is more important to you."
Rosalie turned to face him, her voice wavering. "How do I choose between the two? This place—this land—it's my home. But sometimes I feel like I'm suffocating here, like I'm stuck in a life that's too small for me."
Will reached out, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "You don't have to make a decision right now. Sometimes, the answers come when you least expect them."
Rosalie blinked back the sudden sting of tears, grateful for Will's steady presence. He had always been there for her, through every hardship, offering quiet support without pushing her in any direction. But now, standing at the crossroads of her future, even Will's comforting words couldn't ease the fear gnawing at her.
"I just don't want to make the wrong choice," she whispered.
Will gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "There's no wrong choice, Rosie. Whatever you decide, it'll be the right one for you. And no matter what happens, you won't be doing it alone."
Rosalie nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain: her life was about to change in ways she had never imagined.
As the first rays of sunlight began to peek over the hills, casting a golden glow across the fields, Rosalie took a deep breath. She wasn't ready to let go of the farm—not yet. But she couldn't ignore the call of the unknown any longer.
For now, she would wait. And when the time came, she would be ready to face whatever path lay ahead.