Together

He wants to work the garden; she wants a kitchen sink. He’s doing his best for all of them, she knows, so they can eat their own vegetables during these lean times without an income.

He’s juggling so much, with job applications and home renovations and a totally re-landscaped block. Racing to plant before the cold sets in. He’s in his element with lots of projects on the go. She’s struggling. It’s not how she works. She likes to focus on one thing, get it done and then move on to the next.

Stress, frustration, fear of the unknown mount, climb the walls of the house, hang from the ceiling in great grey clouds, looking to separate and destroy. Voices rise and harsh words fly.

She hangs her head in shame. He brings her a cup of tea.

It’s almost ridiculous the amount they’ve achieved in just a few months. No one works harder than he does.

‘I’m sorry,’ she says.

‘I’m doing this all for you, for us.’

‘I know,’ she says.

She puts down her schedule and fixation with the sink to walk outside into the sunshine, put her gumboots on. To plant and rake by his side, because together, they’ll see more grow and be fruitful. Together the grey clouds blow away and fear crawls back into a dark forgotten corner.