“You’re settling down, I see.”

His gaze locked with yours as you turned around on the swing, seeing your dad standing there with his arms crossed, a small smile spread over his face. The sun was going down, creating golden hour across the big terrain. Ivy made its way up on the white planks of the farm house, sunflowers and hoya bellas almost covering the whole front garden of your newly found home.

“I guess so. A little.” You said, looking back out onto the grass fields that seemed to stretch for miles and miles. You felt your dad’s hands press into your back before he gently pushed you, the swing moving itself forward due to the gentle force.

The sound of the creaking rope combined with the birds chirping was enough to calm you down from this bubbling feeling of sadness that had settled itself into your ribcage, seemingly stubborn and refusing to leave. That sadness had bloomed ever since your mother passed away, and it had refused to leave. Even 8 months after her death, you weren’t sure if this pain was something that would ever go away. You knew your dad felt the same exact way. He was hurting as much as you were, but kept it under wraps. For your sake.

“What were you up to before I got here, mh?” He asked, looking at his child’s hair, it messy and dark, just like his. You were his everything, and he definitely let you know that you were. You noticed in his actions, words and gestures he made towards you.

You glanced back at your father’s face, your hair blowing in front of your face due to the wind that was created by the swinging of the creaky swing. “You know, the usual ever since we got here. Watering plants, feeding the goats and stuff. Then I got here and after a few minutes you got here, too.”

“Mh, mind if I join you then, kid?” His big hands reached for the rope, pausing the swing abruptly as he looked down. “Or maybe you’d fancy a cup of tea with your old man, eh?”