silvers in your teeth {fabian/scarlett}

He raced the sun and conquered dawn. An early rise meant pushing the ache in his muscles to an uncomfortable apex, and it sank into his bones until he could imagine them creaking beneath his weight. There were no choruses of bird songs to comfort him; only the padding of his own footsteps as he dressed into one of his disposable shirts and jeans and sauntered upstairs. His siblings were all fast asleep, eyelashes and heartbeats fluttering in sync. He had promised them a trip to the creek this afternoon, and he couldn’t follow through unless he finished his chores early. Saturdays were often easiest to wrestle; school was out, work was light, and there was time available to relax. He intended to spend that time with his feet dipped in freshwater.

The kitchen was silent. His father woke later in the day, having adjusted to an unemployed lifestyle, and it was too early for mother to stir and make breakfast. For a fleeting moment, he considered cooking breakfast and leaving it out for the whole family, but he was short on time and sunlight was peeking through the curtains. Another day, he decided. The kind gesture would hold the same meaning any other morning. If the wood floors were stained gold, it meant he had already lost precious time. The sun could not watch over his ranch until all of the cattle were fed.

Outside, the tidings of autumn swept a breeze across his cheeks. It was a refreshing taste of seasonal change, coolness instead of humidity. Fall was the epitome of comfort, his favorite season among all others. Raking leaves had always been a chore he and his siblings could enjoy together. They were too old to collect the brightest ones and keep them in their bedrooms anymore, but that didn’t stop anyone from laughing and leaping into the piles like they had never aged a day. Then would come winter, and the birds would migrate south. Nobody would visit the creek for months, but wander in the woods looking for frost instead. Fabian would be more concerned with their cattle seeking warmth in the barn. He had high hopes that this winter would be mild.

He fed the cattle in the barn, sneezing within the first minute. He had a mild allergy to one of the substances in their food, but it didn’t matter. His priority was checking the newest calf on the pasture, searching for abnormalities or health concerns; there were none. After a head count, he rushed back inside to retrieve a water bottle. The sun now cast an impressive glow across the fields, and he could hear his sisters puttering around in their rooms, whispering as if their brothers couldn’t hear them down the hall. He smiled and slipped out the door before one of them could catch him. They were always distracting, always wanting to play or cook with him. To reject their sweet smiles was pure heartache. He would rather save the smiles for later.

He gathered tools from the shed and headed down the hill. The rest of his time would be spent replacing a section of the fence. Too much wear and tear left it vulnerable, and the fall season was most appropriate for construction projects. He sighed as the sun seared into his back. He had foolishly forgotten his hat, and with only a shadow to hide in today wouldn’t be pleasant. His last dizzy spell had occurred two weeks ago, and the last time he passed out was a month before that. Aches were eternal, but he was used to all of it. This was his life. Without diligence, the business wouldn’t survive. It was hard to drill that into his siblings’ heads. They didn’t yet understand how important this was.

Still, he had promised his sisters he would take more breaks and drink more water, so as soon as exhaustion gripped him he stood and stretched his arms above his head. In the distance, he heard a carriage approaching. The road had been silent thus far. He blinked and wiped the sweat from his brow.