Finally I reach the trees. Before I walk into the forest, I turn around and watch the beautiful landscape, trying to enjoy it. But I can’t. I just can’t. So I just turn my back to the beauty and enter the forest.
Only a few steps into the forest and the world around me completely transforms. The sound of the wind rushing over water has completely disappeared, replaced by the sound of insects and the wind rushing through the leaves, making the forest alive. A few steps further, and the only thing I can see around me are the trees. The beauty of it overcomes me and I have to sit down. A little meadow isn’t that far away, so I get myself to walk over there before I literally let myself fall down, right onto the grass.
Deep in the meadow, under the willow,
And I’m just lying on the grass, watching the branches of the high trees above me, looking at the leaves that rustle in the wind.
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow.
The song my mother sang to me when I was young. This place reminds me so much of it. It’s exactly the place I imagined when my mom would softly sing to me.
Lay down your head, and close your eyes.
Without even thinking about it, I open my mouth and start singing. The melody is slow, very slow. The first sentence sounds a little rusty, as I haven’t talked for quite a long time now. The second one is better, and during the third sentence, it actually sounds nice. But the sudden presence of an adult man makes me shut my mouth before the fourth sentence starts.
Is it him? I’m not sure. It could be. This area must be deserted, which is probably why he’s looking at me in such awe. At least, I think he’s looking at me, but his eyes itself seem to be looking at something close to me. Well, it can’t be something special as the only thing I took with me are the backpack and the axe, and –
The axe. Where is it? I’ve got to have it. It’s my only defense, and if that guy is the one, I am gonna need it.
Then I see it, not too far away from me. I must’ve flung it into a tree when I fell down. Without even thinking about it, I get up, sprint to the axe and defensively hold it in front of me. The guy must’ve been watching the axe, because his eyes haven’t moved but still he’s looking at me now.