It was a gorgeous sunset. The sun's light illuminated and bounced off the rugged landscape before her. The scene was like something you'd see on a postcard, it was glorious, and every time you looked at it you saw something new. It was the type of scene you'd feel sad to see go, and it was the type of scene she'd stare at for hours. Most of it was gorgeous rock face, with moss and other forms of greenery growing in its cracks. There were small pools of water here and there, and tons of wildlife. A few hundred feet away, a geyser shot up. The loud eruption of hot water spooked the horse she was riding.
"Shh girl, it's not going to hurt you."
She said as she stroked her horses' ear. She loved Yellowstone, it seemed magical, everything that happened. It captivated her even more the fact that it was all natural, that nature was doing this. So every afternoon, after school and after she faked doing her homework, she would take their one horse, climb the ever-so familiar trail to her favourite spot to watch the sun set. She had always been a city girl, but she had moved around a lot. Her parents were doctors, but they travelled a lot going to conferences and taking up small short term contracts. This was by far her most favourite place that she'd been to.
She returned to the breath-taking landscape, sighing as she noticed the sun was fading fast. She knew how dark it got at nights, so with one final look, she turned and began to ride back. It wasn't being alone, or the dark, or being alone in the dark that frightened her, it was the fact that with such a harsh landscape, you could make one false move and be a goner. She knew of some tourists who'd stay out too late, and while trying to make it back, fallen into a geyser and perished. She shivered, the thought gave her chills. But she had her trusty horse, Trix, he knew the trail better than her. He was a park horse, but her family had inherited them since living on park grounds.
She approached the small house which her parents and her were currently inhabiting. It was built in the 1960's, and considering it was one of the most famous national parks, they weren't tearing it down to disturb the wildlife anytime soon. It was a good house, nice and quaint, and she liked it here too much to complain anyways.
She tied Trix up in the small barn, and rushed to her house.
"Jenna!" She heard the unmistakeable voice of her Mother.
"Have you been on the trail again?" It was such a cliché moment, and she held herself back from rolling her eyes.
"Yes Mom, are you going to worry every time I go out by myself?"
"Of course, I'm your Mom. It's in the job description bro." She said with the familiar quirky smile that meant she was trying to be hip. The girl just laughed, and asked where her Dad was.
"He's in town, and when he gets back, we have a family discussion to commence."
She wondered when her Mom had become so finicky. They never had family discussions. If they were moving, one would just say so. Then they'd go to a fancy restaurant, have a quick goodbye dinner, and the next morning, they'd be gone. She liked it that way, it was cool, it wasn't some dragged out ceremony where they'd cry over their home and freak out about the next one. It would just happen. Although sometimes it did lead her to wonder if they were part of the WPP.
She flung herself onto the couch, and looked for some good bad-reality shows. It wasn't long before she heard the rusty park car pull into the gravel driveway. Her heart started beating, even though she had convinced herself this was nothing to freak about. On the inside though, she was panicking, big time.
The door swung open, and after her father stopped singing the end of some bad 80's song she heard,
"Hello gals!"
And casually got up from the couch.
"Sup Pops?"
"Not much home dog!" She really wished they both didn't try so bad to be hip.
After primary greetings and "How was your day?" The parents sat the girl down at the table. She sat, picking at her now chipping nail polish as they began to speak in a slow matter. Eventually, her gaze drifted upward, as she starred at them in complete disbelief. Her fists balled, and her expression turned angry, although her eyes were welling up. This was far worse from anything she could have imagined.
They tried to console her, but she kept her head down. Her lips were clenched and she didn't say a word. Her head was shaking, and a small smile formed on her lips. She stood up, cocked her head to one side, laughed, and proceeded to go to her bedroom. And there, where she could finally be private, would she sob into her pillow, and kiss the life she loved goodbye.