It's been a year.
It's been a year since the crash. Since I held my mother for the last time. I feel lost.
I feel broken.
I try not to think about the pain of it all. It's unbearable, but, from time to time, I find myself remembering that night. The night a wolf, bigger than any i'd ever thought, stepped in front of our vehicle, almost mockingly. Almost, waiting.
My hand clenches into a tight fist, remembering the hospital.
There's something almost peaceful thinking back to that night. I don't know how, or why, but I could feel her. Comforting me. As if her essence was standing right behind me, telling me it would be okay. I remember watching my dad fall to his knees, realizing just how real it all was.
Dylan was next to me, the shock still evident on his face. Soon enough, the tears found their way sliding down his cheeks.
He didn't want to let go of my hand.
I stood there with him, having a silent battle internally, tasting the salt which stained the edge of my lips. All I could do was stand there.
None of us got to say goodbye.
As I think back I remember my dad. I remember the late work nights he had. He told us he needed to be there, that they needed him there.
I knew it was a lie.
He needed something to take his mind off of home, or what was once a fresh start.
He missed her. He still does.
It's been a year since that night.
Yet I find myself reliving it everyday.
So deep in thought, I subconsciously stand and start pacing back and forth on the rocky terrain. My hand tightens around my mothers journal, as I walk down the side of the hill.
She had always kept a journal entry of every day since grandma passed. I've already read it all, some of it sounding more like riddles, but I still like to reread her beautiful cursive handwriting from time to time.
When I reach the base of the hill, I hear a distant crackling noise, making me halt in my tracks. The noise comes again as a small red fox jumps out from the bushes. His nose curls, scrunched, ready to defend himself against any threat.
I paused, slowly kneeling down to his height. His face softened, revealing his light golden eyes. He sniffed the air, slowly making his way over to where I was knelt down.
He flinched as I reached for my bag to pull out my peanut butter crackers.
"It's okay, i'm not going to hurt you." He's cautious but continues crawling towards me with his head down, eyes up.
"Are you hungry?" I ask, not awaiting a reply. He instantly takes the cracker in his mouth and runs back to the bush he was once in, pausing for a moment to look back at me.
I smile, remembering how my mother would of loved to see this. She's the reason i'm out here.
As I make my way to the road i glance down at my phone which reads '4:00pm'.
It's getting so late already.
Tomorrows our birthday.
It'll never be the same.
I look down, feeling my phone buzz in my hand. There were two notifications, one from my group chat with dad and Dylan, and one from my news app. My eyes widen reading the stated title, 'Birmingham: Horse Tears Apart Man He's Known His Whole Life'.
Jeez. Gruesome.
I try to make nothing of it until another notification from the same app pops up on my screen, 'India: This Mysterious Tree Has Consumed Four People In It's Roots'.
"What?" My thoughts are voiced as I try to stay calm, watching my screen blow up in notifications.
It's all over the world.
The next notification I get is from the group chat, reading, 'Ruby, where are you? Come home asap.'
It was my brother, he's always been overly worried about what's going on in the news. It's probably nothing, just a coincidence.
As I reach for the handle to the front door of my house, it swings open.
"Oh my god, oh my god you're alive." My brother steps forward giving me a hug, afterwards punching my shoulder.
"Ow?! What was that for?!" Before I can even comprehend why the hell he's being so weird, I am dragged into the house.
"No time. Sit." He points to the couch which is right in front of the tv. The news is on.
I pout, crossing my arms. Anger evident on my face.
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay. Im sorry. I was worried." He looks up, almost annoyed. "Now sit." I roll my eyes, not moving from my spot.
He's gonna have to do better than that.
"Please?" He asks, clearly not letting this dramatics act go. He's always been such a theorist.
I let my arms drop, walking over to the couch, and sitting on a very comfy corner cushion. Only then do I realize just how tired I am from being outside for so long.
"Watch." He said pointing a finger from me, to the television.
Trying to keep my eyes open, I concentrate on the woman inside the screen.
"All over the world, people have been reporting that animals have been 'fighting back'." I roll my eyes at this statement.
This isn't news. This has happened through the decades. This is so silly.
I can't help but notice the worry lacing Dylan's face. Maybe I should actually listen to this.
For him.
"Not only that, but vegetation has spread through cities at a rate no one has ever calculated before." My eyes widen at the photos which are placed onto the screen.
That can't be possible.
The photos show buildings in Los Angeles, but the bottom floors are almost entirely covered. Covered by vines and roots.
Is this some sick joke?
Is this real?
As if hearing the voice in my head, the lady continues. "These photos are from a well known photographer from our own news station in Sydney. He traveled miles just to find out the truth."
My mind becomes a scrabbled ball of yarn as I try to reach reality.
This, is reality?
I listen intently, leaning forward to hear the rest of the story.
"Has Mother Nature truly turned her back on us, or is this the start of a new epidemic?" The woman looks down, not reading what was initially in front of her.
She's scared.
I'm scared.
Dylan's scared.
We need to call dad.
I reach for my phone, thinking back to what she had said.
Has Mother Nature turned her back on us?
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Oh jeez. That was a lot huh.
Thanks for reading ;)
See ya next time little gems, wish me luck <3