Snow drifted down at a steady beat, casting the farm in brilliant whites and icy blues. The barren tree limbs reached out of the high pack, stretching like skeletal hands toward the leaden sky.

  Loose powder skittered through the orchards in small waves, whistling softly across the frozen ground.

  Seated comfortably on the porch, the permanent residents of Golden Fields basked in the dawn light. The sun never reached over the mountains this time of year, leaving the farm proper in a permanent veil of wan light.

  Jutting high into the sky, many miles higher than during the summer, the Solar Kites loomed. Although now, with the cloud cover, they were not visible. Only the massive cable restraining their drift could be seen.

  The black steel ropes arched high into the heavens before vanishing. Thick icicles clung to their undersides, refracting the light and glowing like fragments of the Bifrost, solid rainbows caught in ice.

  Luke shifted slightly in Morel’s plush lap, his legs running across hers, while she supported his back with the hand not holding her steaming mug of coffee. His ambulation annoyed the fuzzle ball of animals clinging to his lap and surrounding them on the bench swing.

  Most days, it was just Morel, Luke, Ember, and Button. But today, the other, more reclusive animals had decided to join in. As such, Ember's family was curled against one side of the bench, while the army of bunnies crowded the other.

  With that many warm bodies piled together, it was a miracle that the bench had not buckled under the pressure.

  They watched the world swirl by them, the slow ambling plod of existence having not stopped despite the winter having frozen the farm in its tracks—not that either of them minded.

  All the troubles of life had also frozen, allowing them to spend more time together, tending the fires of their growing relationship.

  Ever since the tithe had completed, Luke and Morel had fallen into a steady day-in, day-out rhythm. One that they would keep until the snow melt came.

  They had already made plans to expand the orchard, but those massive undertakings also had to wait until the spring. In such subfreezing temperatures, digging out an area for more trees was impossible.

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  “So how are you feeling now that Keyil is gone?” Luke asked, casting his gaze toward the now vacant workers' hut.

  “I will miss having her around,” Morel admitted. “But she insisted on going to Titan.”

  “Her publisher gave her a solid deal.”

  Morel nodded, understanding why Keyil took the deal, but still not enjoying that her desert friend had left. Save for the two short years when Morel was in Europe, they were always nearby. For the first time in her life, Morel felt as if Keyil was actually gone and out of reach.

  They could still see one another through video calls, but it wasn't the same. To hug and spend genuine time with her best friend, Morel would have to leave the farm for months, something she simply could not do for years. Even if the stars aligned, their time together would be rare.

  “Still, I will miss her,” Morel said, resting her cheek on the top of Luke's head.

  “Same,” Luke muttered.

  Luke looked down as Ember shifted in his lap. The little cat elegantly and silently slithered off him and to the ground. She wandered off and trudged through the snow. Her bunny companion was quick to follow her trail, leading toward the now rebuilt processing building, its paint still fresh.

  An odd feeling welled up inside his chest, almost guilt, but not quite as sharp. No, it was far more of a void. A hollowness that had yet to be filled after all he had known, down to his very last name, had been removed through bureaucratic processes

  Once, his name had carried weight, expectations, obligations, threats. Now it was just a sound Morel used when she laughed, or when she whispered it against his skin.

  For the first time in his life, his name belonged to him.

  He had yet to fully process what had occurred with his family.Seeing the rebuilt processing building across the yard reminded him of how easily they had discarded him.

  “Do you think they really will stay away?” Luke asked.

  “Who?” Morel asked, sipping her coffee.

  “My fam—well, former family.”

  Morel was silent for a moment, considering the question. Her arm flexed, pulling Luke tighter, as if she were protecting him.

  “I do,” Morel breathed, “They want nothing to do with us at this point.”

  “I suppose you are right.” Luke agreed, thinking back to how Curt had simply sent them a wire transfer of chits to fix the building and how it had been months since they had heard anything from them.

  “Do you want them to return?” Morel asked.

  Luke shook his head and looked up at Morel, “Not a chance.”

  His hand clasped hers. Morel, as naturally as breathing, held his in return, silently giving all the effort he gave to her. “I have everything I want right here.”

  “Me too, sug,” Morel replied, leaning in and kissing Luke’s forehead.

  They looked into one another’s eyes, seeing the other for who they were, not what others wanted, nor what the universe demanded. Right where they are, and with who they were with, neither had to perform for score, or do anything but ensure the jubilation and joy of the other.

  They looked out to the orchard once again, thinking of all the work they had done, all they had accomplished in such a short time. The roots of what they had done had grown deep and strong; those roots now held fast in frozen soil, storing strength for what was to come with the thaw—just as they did.

  “I love you, Morel.”

  “I love you too, Luke.”

  Thank you all for reading this version of Golden Fields and supporting me through the writing process. I cannot thank you all enough.

  Now onto some business stuff. The manuscript for this novel has been with my publisher since the new year. My hope is that by the time you read this hat the manuscript has been edited, and is ready for release. Once it is ready. I will stub this novel and make a post announcing the release. But until it is ready, the chapters will remain.

  I will see you all once I begin my next novel.

  -Colin Graves