It was how they had planned all their family holidays, but not this time. Dad pinpointed the bottom of the page with his fingers.
“The University is here. Your proximity to the beach and aquarium will be great for your marine studies, although I don’t know how you managed to get interested in that while living in this land-locked city,” her father said.
“Those seaside holidays with you and… mom,” Isabel trailed off. She stared down at her father’s hands, catching the glint from his ring. He’d been married to her ghost for a year and a half.
“Yes,” he smiled, his eyes seeing much further away than what was in front of him, “those were wonderful times.”
“I’m not sure if I want to do marine biology anymore though. Jobs in that field are scarce. Maybe I should do a business course at the local college. I’d probably earn more doing that.”
“Since when are you about the money? You love nature and an office job would kill you. If it is meant to be, it will all work out.”
“I know,” replied Isabel, “but love doesn’t pay the bills.”
“Well he could if you bothered to go out at all,” chuckled her father.
“Very funny dad.”
“You know I’ll be ok while you’re away, or are you worried I’ll have too much fun on my own?”
by Debbie Gravett © 2019.08.02
FFFC: Flash Fiction Challenge #24
Image by Gregory Hayes at unsplash.com
Debbie Gravett 
So beautiful! So many emotions compressed in just a few lines, sad, hopeful, tender, heartbreaking, and all of them so subtly and elegantly conveyed.
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Thanks so much for reading and your kind feedback. Much appreciated.
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