I stare up at the slivers of light that escape through the thick canopy of trees above me. I fold my arms beneath my head creating a sort of makeshift pillow. I feel the rough forest floor scrape and scratch against my forearms but I ignore the pain. The cool summer breeze brushes against my skin and tickles my toes. I smile faintly as I feel it whisper through my hair.
I get up and sit cross-legged, thanking whatever force that made me wear jeans today instead of shorts. I shake the leaves out of my hair and sigh quietly.
Pulling my knees to my chest, I rest my chin against them and thought to myself. These three years had flown by and I had remained numb through it all. The calm surface of the lake by my side rippled as a dragon fly flitted across its surface.
The sky was tinged a pretty pink and I realize that it was high time I went home. Everything was deadly still as I rose from my spot. The distant roar of traffic could be heard somewhere off to the left. I pull out my phone and stare blankly at the screen. 18:18 the clock read. I sighed again and was about to move when a flash of movement towards the right makes me freeze.
My nostrils flare and my heart rate increased with each passing second. I turn my head slowly towards my right and stare out into the murky depths of the trees though everything in me was screaming at me to run. I hear a twig snap and I flinch at the noise. The small hairs on the nape of my neck began to rise in alarm.
Just as I begin to think that it was probably a squirrel or a rabbit, a little, white ball comes tumbling out and sprawls on the ground, five feet from me. I raise my eyebrows in surprise and stare dumbfounded as the little ball sits up and squeals in protest.
Annoyed hazel eyes met surprised burgundy ones.
'The tree kicked me!' She wailed. It was a little girl, about seven or eight years old and had the sweetest voice I had ever heard.
'What?' I ask, not understanding.
'The tree' she said, gesturing into the darkness behind her 'Kicked me!'
I couldn't help but laugh at her indignant tone.
'You mean you tripped.' I said, my tone soothing.
She shook her head vehemently in response and said, 'No! She kicked me!'
I smile at that and ask, 'Its a she now, is it?'
She looked back at me as though I were dumb.
'All trees are girls, you dummy!' She says before she bursts into peals of laughter.
I laugh too, I couldn't help it. Her laugh was filled with such joy that made one want to just stop whatever they were doing and laugh along with her.
She makes her way towards me, her stride and poise belying her age. She settles down by my side, tucking her white frock under as she did so. She looked up at me with her big, innocent, hazel coloured eyes and said, 'I think I am hurt.' Her tone was sullen as she said this. Concerned, I crouch by her side and extend my hand in askance. My eyes scan her, searching for bruises or cuts.
Her appearance baffled me greatly.
Her dusky skin was perfect, unmarred and seemed to have this inner glow. Her dark hair fell about her waist in thick ringlets that swayed with every move. Her rosy lips were right now pulled down in a pout. She wore a plain white frock and was, surprisingly, barefooted. Her face reminded me of one of the cherubs in a painting at my house.
She stuck her delicate foot out in response. I snap out of my trance and sit down beside her. I grasp her ankle and recoil immediately when I hear her pained whimper. I look at her face and frown at the pained expression there. I turn back and search out my bag which I had discarded on the ground. Pulling it towards me, I take out my torch. I shine it on her ankle and grimace at the bruise I see there. Luckily, there were no cuts.
'Does it burn?' I ask her, quietly. She nods in response. I chew the inside of my lip as I take my scarf and soak it in the lake water. Carefully, I wrap it around her heated ankle and set her foot down. Her angelic face contorts in pain but she does not protest.
I settle back down by her side and look at her. She leans on my arm and I end up wrapping it around her slim shoulders, resting her head against my chest.
'What's your name?' I ask her after a while. She had begun humming by then. She looked up at me, an impish smile beginning to form on her face.
'My mother has told me that I shouldn't talk to strangers.' She replied. I stare blankly at her before bursting out with laughter. She giggles at my reaction and moves down to curl up on my lap, careful so as to not dislodge the scarf around her ankle.
I smile down at her and smooth the hair away from her forehead.
'What do you feel?' She asks, suddenly.
I start at her question and look at her confused.
'As in?' I ask. 'As in...what do you feel right now?' She asked in response.
I look away and into the woods, trying to come up with an answer to her question.
I felt at peace...happy...after a really long time.
I told her the same.
'Close...but no.' She replied and giggled. I look away in confusion. I think harder, my curiosity was thoroughly piqued by now and I couldn't help but feel frustrated that I didn't know the answer to her question. A question on my feelings and I didn't know the answer!?
After scrambling my brains for a while it finally dawned on me.
The one thing I didn't have. The one thing that I had thought I had lost. The one thing I needed the most.
'Hope?' I ask her, slowly.
She beams at me in response. 'That's my name. I am Hope.' She says happily.
I let out a small laugh and shake my head.
As I play with her hair, I look up at the stars and smile with genuine happiness after a long, long time.
