Short Stories

The last forest ever

I stood there. It was silent. The sharp scent of pine filling my senses. Oddly though, it was relaxing. The sap of a near by tree clinging to my fingers. Cool air from the light breeze spread across my face. I took it all in. I felt free under the towers that seemed to scrape the heavens. I had finally made it. Traveled the four corners of the Earth for this moment. The last forest ever. I would be one of the only ones to make it here. I swept my hand on my forehead. Catching beads of sweat. It was getting hotter. I didn't think much of it. I closed my eyes. Breathing in the smell of the forest. Until the acidic smell of smoke engulfed my lungs. Sending tremendous pain across my chest. I ripped my eyelids open in surprise. They stung from the hazy smog of smoke. I coughed as the smoke blinded me. In front of me a small fox padded up. He turned towards me with small terrified eyes before scampering into the trees. Then I felt it. The burning fumes hot across my flesh. It's orange color sweeping across the Earth. I could almost hear the screams of the trees and the flames took them down. Slowly chipping away at every leaf and branch. The charred trunks surrounding me. Tears began steaming down my face. Not because of the stinging in my eyes or even my deadly experience. But because this forest, was lost. I looked at the forest, now ablaze. Would I end up dying here too? Becoming one with the trees? My ashes fallen against the scorching dirt? Was this the end of not only the last forest on Earth, but for me as well? No. I couldn't let it happen. I began running from the forest. Terrified I would die here. Terrified for the forest. This was the last forest ever. Would it be gone forever?