Chapter Text
The morning was a bright blur. Pomni was woken up earlier than usual by her mother, pale makeup patted onto her face before getting hurried into the car; They had an appointment today. Pinky reached across the backseats and stretched the seatbelt across her sleepy daughter, buckling her in. Pomni’s eyes refused to stay open, feeling heavy on her eyes as she lulled her head to look over at the window. She felt the gentle rustling of the car humming as it started backing up before heading onto the road, it only seemed to lull her more. Gently opening her eyes to a squint, She looked out the window at the trees passing by, and the bright golden light peaking between the branches to seep into the car. The warmth shining onto her face from the distant sun tingled her face.
Her mother held her hand firmly as they entered, and Pomni shivered at the horrible sterile cold that crept up her skin. She had always hated this building, the cold, the smell, and the constant buzz of the lights adorning the ceiling. After being led back to a room that reminded her of the principles office back at school, she was sat down. Pomni’s eyes started lingering around as her mother began speaking to the man behind the desk, using large words and concerned faces she didn't understand yet.
Pomni hated these days – once every other week, she would get taken out of her cozy bed much too early, and driven to a terribly boring office. It seemed like a strange mix of a doctor’s office and the playrooms she would see in that school. Every time, she would sit down and get talked at for hours, while her mom answered questions she didn't care enough to listen to. The seat always hurt if she sat still for too long, and there was never anything to do. One thing she did like was the colorful scenery painted on the walls in the same style as the cartoons she watches before bedtime. She liked to imagine those white bunnies hopping out of the painting and playing with her; no one else would.
Every once in a while, Pomni would have to answer a question the doctor asked in a soothing tone while crouching down to her height. The rest of the time, She spent shifting in her seat, refusing to sit in the same position for a long enough time. Did they really have to make these seats so hard? No way she could be comfortable here. The buzzing of the overhead lights made her eyes slightly squint with the constant white light that was just a little too bright. Her eyebrows furrowed as she cupped her ears with her palms to block out the buzzing, rocking in her seat to get some movement while she was stuck here.
Eventually, her mother stood up and reached out her hand to Pomni, signaling it was over. Finally, they could leave. She quickly hopped out of the seat and took her mother’s hand, taking a moment to get balance as she hurriedly exited. Pomni let out a mental sigh of relief as they walked out of that cold building and out to the parking lot. The sun was higher up in the sky than before, shining its gold down onto the land and warming Pomni’s skin once more. She got into the car and buckled her seatbelt on her own – something she was recently learning to do – and fixed her eyes out the window. Her mother pulled out of the parking lot and reached the main road, heading back down the long straightaway through the countryside. Pomni’s eyes scanned outside the whole time, flicking between the crowded trees, then the hilly green pastures that spanned forever. She slightly sat up straighter in her seat; this was her favorite road.
That familiar old sign passed – “the Bunny Farms” Wooden lettering nailed onto a plank of wood stood up in the dirt. Then, began the rectangle pattern of pastures and crops lined up in rows spanning further than the hills showed. Corn, wheat, potatoes, carrots, onions, apple trees, and a lake surrounded by it all with cattail plants and lily pads. The Barnhouse in the distance overlooking it all. Pomni admired the beautiful organization, the cornstalks, healthy trees, and the fertile soil below it all. The sun gives the scenery a soft blanket.
“...pretty” Pomni muttered, as if the sound was completely unintentional.
“Yeah?” Her mother smiled at the little comment she heard from the backseat.
After a moment, the farm passed by, and pomni pressed her cheek to the glass to look back, trying to keep the farm in sight as long as possible. She felt a need to stay, even if she was never really there. “Can we go there?” She suddenly asked in a hopeful tone, looking back in front of her to her mother. She wanted nothing more than to step foot there, to view the beautiful place properly.
“Oh, honey, I'm…” Her mother muttered through her teeth. That was a working farm, a generational piece of land that belonged to a huge family. It would be rude to step foot there. “I don't know about that, sweetie.” She carefully said as her eyes remained forward. Pomni didn't respond, her face remaining blank as she glanced down then out the window again. Maybe that was disappointment in her eyes, it was hard to tell. She rested her chin on the car door as her eyes gazed out the window again. Maybe she would visit that place one day; she couldn't be satisfied until she did. She shifted her admiration back to the scenery.
She never did like waking up early, but the opportunity to see the land turn gold under the early sun was worth it.
The car drove down the dirt road, leaving a thin dust of kicking up dirt. A farm worker loosened his grip on the wheel plow he had been hauling for an hour now. Straightening his back to stand straight and watch as the car disappeared into the trees. He recognized that car now; it passed every week. He stared as far as the trees would allow him to see, before a yell came from a mile back:
“Jax! Back on the plow!”
One of his big sisters, Jane, yelled from the next crop section over. A grumble came from his throat as he gripped the plow and went back to pushing.