Story-A-Day #67: Forest Trail

FOREST TRAIL

She knew she was dreaming, but she was okay with that. It was a pleasant dream: tranquil and lucid. She was walking through a forest, beneath a translucent lemon-lime canopy of spring leaves, the sun filtering through and bathing the world in warm patches of light.

She gazed down at her feet as she walked along the trail. The rich brown sand of the path was flecked with golden sparkles of iron pyrite, a dusting of fool’s gold to guide her along. The trail was lined with scrub, tiny maple seedlings and ferns that slowly unfurled towards the light.

The trees parted and she entered a clearing, the path stretching through its centre and up a gentle slope on the other side. She past through the swaying grasses, Indian paintbrushes and horse-tails brushing against her shins. Bird song filled the air and the dull drone of a cicada denounced the heat of the afternoon. She passed a clump of sycamore trees, the fuzzy red fruit a stark contrast against the soft greens of the day.

In the distance, she could hear a creek gurgling and a smile spread slowly across her face. She quickly scaled the small slope, entering back into the comfortable embrace of the forest. It was a spectacular afternoon filled with promise and peace.

She reached the creek a few moments later and sat down on its bank where she quickly pulled off her shoes and socks. The cool water trickled around her feet and she walked slowly along the creek, splashing gently as she picked her way through the rocky bottom.

A sudden roar built up around her and she peered skywards, just in time to see the jet passing by above the trees, the noise a jarring intrusion in the tranquility of her dream. The world shuddered briefly and she awoke, disjointed and confused.

She was in bed and she remembered then that she had been dreaming. The clock read 6:34. Her alarm would go off in just over ten minutes so she decided she would get up now. She slid out of the warm cocoon of her duvet and walked into the bathroom. The glaring fluorescent light made her wince and she peered out the small window next to the toilet.

The world outside was dark, buried under heavy mounds of snow. There was at least another two months of winter left. She would wait it out and be happy when spring finally made its triumphant return.