As they made their way out of the gate, Mark had his first proper look at Diane's house from across the school. The main body of the house was painted a cheerful pink, with a violet roof that stood out against the backdrop of trees and the nearby cemetery, separated only by a low, weathered wall.

"You really have a nice house," Mark said, admiring its charm.

Diane, hearing the compliment, waved it off with a light laugh. "No, it's just an average house you can find anywhere. You know how it is—just a typical pink monstrosity next to a graveyard."

Mark chuckled, catching her playful tone. "Well, I’m sure the rumors about ghosts give it that extra special touch, don’t they?"

Diane chuckled, her expression turning thoughtful. "Honestly, before I bought that house, it was abandoned. People were too scared to buy or rent it because of the ghost stories. Being next to a cemetery does make people paranoid. I was scared too. I'm not exactly brave when it comes to ghost tales, but I needed a place, and my sister already had her hands full with her husband and daughter."

She reminisced with a soft smile. "So, I bought it and added some of my favorite colors to make it feel more like home. It's a bit of a sanctuary now."

Mark smiled, sensing her pride in the decision. "It was probably the best decision you ever made, right? I can tell by the look on your face."

Diane glanced at him with a playful smirk. "Actually, it was the second-best. The first was deciding to follow my dream of becoming the coolest farm woman in the world."

Mark teased her with a grin. "The coolest, huh? That's a pretty big title. Maybe you should settle for being a simple farm girl."

She chucked and playfully replied "You're just jealous cause it's true."

Mark just laughed and he saw Diane motioned toward the house. "You might not see the fields from here as the walls block them—but everything around this house speaks to the hard work I've put into it. The walls, the garden, even this old pickup truck, all of it represents years of effort."

Mark could sense the weight of what she was saying. Even though the fields were hidden, he understood the dedication it took to maintain such a home and farm. "It's clear that this place is a product of your hard work. You might not be able to see the crops, but the way you've built this place tells me everything."

As they passed the park near the school, Diane continued, her voice taking on a reflective tone. "My dad always told me I'd need to be tough to run a farm on my own, especially when no one in the family had farmed for generations. When I bought this house, he helped me out financially. He believed in me enough to give me the money I needed, knowing I'd turn it into something special."

Her expression shifted slightly, the weight of her words becoming evident. "It's funny," she continued, her voice softening. "My mom never really understood my dream. She wanted something more... traditional for me."

Mark noticed the change in her tone and gave her space to continue.

"My mom always had high expectations for both me and my sister. She had this whole vision of what our lives were supposed to look like," Diane said, her voice tinged with nostalgia." But when my twin sister, Debbie, got pregnant, everything started to crumble for her."

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The lightheartedness from before seemed to fade as Diane spoke more deeply. "Debbie was always the star student, the one destined to become an accountant. She studied so hard, dreamed so big. But after she got pregnant, she had to drop out, give up everything she'd worked for. Mom was devastated, and then… I went and did the same thing. Well, not getting pregnant, but choosing a path she never expected."

Mark frowned slightly. "You mean farming?"

Diane nodded. "Yeah. I chose farming over college. And when I decided to follow my own dream, it was like the final blow for my mom. She felt like she had lost both of her daughters—one to pregnancy and the other to some unrealistic dream. My dad's support just made things worse. My mom would say, 'Do you think life is about pursuing your dream? Look at what happened to me after I married your father against my family's wishes. I'm stuck in poverty, where your father can barely make ends meet, and now a huge debt. Also having two ungrateful daughters spoiled by their father.'"

Her voice trembled slightly as she continued. "After that, I never saw my mother in the house again. She left us, and I could see Dad's remorse through his eyes. He tried to stay strong, supporting me and Debbie. He even gave our old house to Debbie, hoping she'd find stability with her family. But he also borrowed money to support both my dreams and Debbie's unexpected pregnancy, which added a lot of debt to our family."

She sadly chuckled as she thought about how hard it was for her father. "But I knew the weight of it all was killing him slowly. He died a few years later, worn down by the struggles he couldn't fix."

Mark felt the weight of her story settle over him. "You've been through a lot, Diane. But look at what you've built. The farm is thriving, and you did that on your own."

Diane wiped at her eyes, her face a mix of pride and sorrow. "That's what keeps me going, you know? Every time I see those crops thriving, even though you can't see them from here, or when I'm delivering them to the people in town, I feel like it was all worth it. All the struggle, the nights spent worrying if I'd made a mistake… it all feels like it paid off."

She glanced at Mark, her sadness lifting slightly as she smiled. "But Dad... he didn’t get to see any of this. He passed a few years ago, before the farm became what it is today. It hurts, knowing he never got to see my dream take shape, to prove it wasn’t the nonsense Mom always thought it was. But... I’ve made sure of one thing—I’ve paid off every single debt we had. The farm’s mine now, and I know Dad would be proud."

Mark admired her resilience. "You've definitely proven them wrong. You're the coolest farm woman I've ever met."

"Exactly!" Diane grinned, her confidence shining through despite the tears that still glistened in her eyes. "And one day, everyone will know it."

Mark, trying to lighten the mood, smirked. "Though to be fair, you're also the only farm woman I've ever met, so my opinion might be a bit biased."

Diane laughed, the sound filling the car and breaking the tension from earlier. "Heh, no one in this town or the neighboring town has veggies as big as mine, you know."

Mark grinned, seizing the chance for a joke. "Maybe the reason your vegetables are so plump and bountiful is because of the dead bodies decomposing next door. That graveyard must make the soil the most fertile in town!"

Diane burst out laughing, the earlier heaviness dissolving into light-hearted humor. "Hey, whatever works, right? I guess my secret ingredient is a bit... unconventional! Who knew the secret to my thriving garden was just a little decomposition? Talk about getting my nutrients straight from the source!"

Mark laughed along with her, his spirits lifted by the infectious joy in her voice. The atmosphere in the car was cheerful now, the earlier tension from her story fading away, leaving them both feeling lighter.

Disclaimer:

The characters, settings, and elements in this fanfiction are the intellectual property of their respective owners. New Life, New Saga is inspired by Summertime Saga, which is owned by Kompas Productions. This fanfiction is created purely for fun and non-commercial purposes, and I do not claim any ownership of the original works. All rights to the original material belong to their creators. If you appreciate my work and would like to support my writing, consider making a donation on my Patreon. Thank you for your support and for reading!