The trees swayed gently in the breeze, towering above my head.
The wind rustled the leaves and whispered secrets and thoughts that engrossed me. My mind swirled with thoughts, as I wandered through the woods, trudging through damp dirt and sopping leaves.
The power of my own thoughts ripped through my mind, throwing opinions around like dice during a game of Yahtzee.
Curiosities about life built up in my head, only to rain down into my thoughts while I was alone in the woods. The power of wisdom bewildered me and the simplicities of life were always thrown around carelessly in my mind.
The forest surrounded me. It being one of the only places I could go to think, the essence had touched me. Whenever I left my house, I'd always end up there, it was a safe place, my safe place.
I wandered through these paths many times, and only the first couple of times when I made my way through, had the animals noticed. Since then, they became familiar with my presence.
The world today is very unfathomable to me, and the interest of earth's beautiful nature, below my feet, doesn't even satisfy my powerful thoughts. I'm lost in the maze of society, and without a map to guide me out of the chaos, I feel as though I am softly fading into the nourishing outcries.
I continued my small journey through the woods, the sounds of birds and crickets chirping riveted throughout my ears. A few steps ahead, a massive hill slowly approached, and before hesitation could set in, I started to climb. Above me, the clouds moved rapidly, and it began to get dark out with every quickening minute.
I reached the top of the hill, not losing track of my breath, as I moved down the small intricate path. My steps crunched the sticks and stones beneath me, and the sun was setting to end such a weary day.
I found the stump of a tree that had fallen over a few years ago in a storm, becoming one of my most favorite places to think throughout the past few months. The wind in the trees slowed as my thoughts were brought under control.
I sat on the stump and looked around swiftly, for what seemed like minutes, only to be around an hour and a half.
I rose slowly, stretched my limbs, and suddenly my phone fell out of my back pocket, vibrating with texts and calls from my mom, and other friends. I picked it up, dialing my moms number, waiting for an answer.
She then answered after the third ring.
"Hello?" I asked, staring blankly ahead, as I started to walk back down the path to my house.
"Where have you been?" She asked urgently, almost screaming into the phone.
"Thinking," I replied smiling, knowing she is about to give a talk about how leaving the house to 'think' isn't important.
I love my mom, but she doesn't like when I leave the house. I don't know if it's her 'overprotective tendencies' or her 'motherly instincts', but I hoped someday, I will come to love the fact that she generally cares about my well-being.
"Ava-," she trailed off sighing.
"What?" I fired back immediately.
"Will you just come home?" She asked, agitation appearing in her tone.
"Already on my way," I said, hanging up the phone.
I finally reached the end of the path, as I put my phone back into my pocket. My house was a few minutes away from the giant obstacle of a hill, I had climbed earlier. I slowly and cautiously made my way back down it, being careful of sticks that may obscure my path.
Once I reached the bottom, I began to run through another path that led out to the dirt road I lived on. There were many paths in these woods, occurring from only my footsteps. My hair flew through the wind, as I took in the fresh spring air of the night. There were clouds still covering the sky, but when I looked up to take in the view, a drop fell onto my face.
Great.
It started to rain as my steps slowed, and my pulse heightened from the physical activity.
The rain poured over my skin, while lightening and thunder littered the sky, in pairs. I made my way to the dirt road, and stomped through the puddles and mud that ensued from the past storms. Spring in Michigan was always one of my favorite times to be outside, but the rain, was not as tolerable. In years past, the rain hasn't ever been a huge deal, but this year, it was different.
It was almost like every time I had gone into the woods, rain occurred, disrupting my casual strolls. The rain was a huge wake up call, drowning me in my own loneliness and giving me an understanding. That understanding being that, I isolate myself from people that care, only to think they don't. The rain always pushed me toward my house, to give me a feeling of contentment.
I burst through the front door of my house, making sure my mom wouldn't notice my dire appearance. But, when I walked through the door, there she was, illuminated, standing there waiting for me.
Although, she was tapping her foot in our small foyer, it didn't distract from the expression shown on her face.
It was like I was hit by a car, but not injured to the point of destruction. She would be happy that I was alive, sad because I was hit, and angry because that person hurled their car towards an 'innocent child'.
No words would ever be able to describe her facial expression towards me leaving all of the time, however, enough remarks were always made about my absences.
"So-," she trailed off, standing with her hands on her hips.
"So-," I trailed off in the same tone.
I stood with my eyes wide, and my feet in a solid stance.
Every time I'd went out these past few months, somehow, we had always end up in this exact situation. I already knew that, within our next few exchange of phrases, she would tell me how running away from your problems was irresponsible, and that I needed to directly face them. I would then agree, just to get out of the argument.
I've heard this conversation way too many times, I decide that mocking her will be entertaining, and I need a good laugh to boost my already low spirits.
"Where have you been?" She asked in a stern voice.
"Where have you been?" I ask back sheepishly grinning.
"No! Listen to me, this isn't funny," she replies back staring at me blankly.
"This isn't funny!" I mock letting out a silent chuckle.
"Tell me right now! I will ground you Ava Katherine!" She yells.
"I will ground you Victoria Elizabeth!" I say quietly smiling at my mom.
"You've asked for it, you are grounded for the rest of the night, and for the next two days. I will not tolerate this behavior amongst my children.
Especially you. You leave whenever you want, and come back expecting us to just 'dismiss' the fact that you've been gone for half of the night. I won't have it. It's unfair to your father and I, and I for one can't take it anymore!" She yelps almost on the verge of tears.
"Wait, what can't I take anymore? What-," my father says walking into the foyer from the kitchen, as he eats some potato chips.
He walks with a certain pep in his step, the kind anyone would take as an invitation to talk to him.
He had dark brown hair, and smile that could change the world. In the dynamic world we live in, I will always look up to my dad, even with all of the evil that takes place, he always fulfills a radiant smile and a positive attitude.
His positive attitude gives me hope, and it almost makes him seem as if he's won the lottery from having such a wonderful life. I'd just wish his irrefutable positive attitude would rub off on the rest of our family, because from what I experience day-to-day, we need some enthusiasm.
"Your daughter. She keeps leaving us, and I'm tired of always having to look everywhere for her!" she interrupts, glancing over at me every few moments.
"Well, I for one, am for these absences, she's too high-maintenance anyway," he smiles back at her while stuffing another chip into his mouth.
I let out a small laugh and realize what he just said, his sarcasm infiltrating the thoughts of my mother and I, it will always be the best part of our arguments. My dad, probably just saved me from the superior that is my mother.
"Hey!" I yell diverting their attention to me.
"What?" My dad says with his mouth full of chips, while holding his arms open cluelessly, and the bag of chips dangling from his left hand.
"I am not high-maintenance!" I snap at them, in a humorous mood.
"Are you kidding me?" He says back beaming at me.
"Yeah whatever," I slouch over and begin to walk over near the stairs to go to my bedroom.
I begin climbing the stairs and almost reach the top before my mom reminds me of my
punishment.
"You're still grounded Ava," she yells up the stairs.
"Yeah, I know," I reply, internally groaning.
"And remember to put your wet clothes in the wash too!" she screams even louder.
I don't even reply because of the shiftless emotion caused by the mark that a punishment has on me.
It's awesome that I will be stuck in my plain room for the next two nights. Not.
The only reason I am home, is because it started raining, and I don't want to be stuck in the woods, in the midst of a thunderstorm.
I reach the white heavy door that guards my room and push lightly down on the handle, swinging the door open, and revealing my simple black and white themed room.
I flick the switch of the lights, and proceeding a luminescent glow fills the room. My room isn't very organized, but the bed is made, and that's the best I can do.
I lay down on my bed and huff. There is nothing I can do, and it's going to be two more nights of this boring, tedious, and sluggish atmosphere, i'm stuck in.
I get up from my bed once again and groan, stretching my limbs, and taking notice more of the chaotic way objects are placed in my room.
My objects float around violently, persuading me to lose control.