The Unravelling

No New Beginnings

~ Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a new way to stand. ~
Oprah Winfrey

The warm August breeze makes the trees surrounding me hum as I rest in my little oasis among the tall grass, basking in the fragrant aromas created by the magenta coloured wildflowers. Closing my eyes I recall the way I felt when I first found The Meadow, it feels like it was just yesterday and yet it was about ten years ago.. The dark forest that drew me in, begging my to explore its treasures beneath the dense canopy of assorted trees. As I got deeper into the forest the evergreen trees became more prominent, they towered over my small eight year old body. Weaving through the large tree trunks and pushing past low hanging branches. Falling through a thick wall of pine needle filled branches, coming through to the other side was like I had walked through a portal into another world. The long grass obstructed my vision and the radiant rays of sunlight that poured into the meadow bounced off the vibrant wildflowers and reflected their colours on my slightly tanned skin. It was my oasis. Even now those towering evergreens wrap me within their protective wall and the long grass cradles my semi muscular body in a warm hug, they're still my only escape from the outside world.

I force my mind to go blank pushing back the rush of emotions I've been holding back all morning, trying desperately to feel the powerful wobbling energy that floats through the air and flows through the warm earth beneath me. The forest has always been there to protect me and almost immediately I feel its warmth wrapping me in a tight hug, the calming sensation rumbles through me as all my troubles seem to lift off and float into the sky.

"Kerina!" A familiar voice seems to bellow through the forest waking me from my trance, "We have a.. a visitor, c'mon!" my eyes drift open as I stretch out my stiff limbs that have been laying in the grass for too long. Only then do the words finally sink in, they feel strange on my tongue as I silently mouth the word 'visitor' the word is almost completely foreign to me.

I recognize the booming voice as my dads, his call fills me with dread as a heavy cloud blows through the sky above me casting small shadows on the trees. I sigh and sit straight up, swiftly pulling back the sleeve of my sweater to check my leather watch. It reads "12:30", and it suddenly dawns on me that I've been out here for almost an hour, I meant to go back home thirty minutes ago. I knew I should have brought my phone and set an alarm, I always spend way too much time out here.

I begrudgingly stand up from my spot letting out a strained huff as I eye up the large tree to the left of me on the other side of The Meadow. I begin to run at inhuman speed toward the bare evergreen and jumping as high as I could, grabbing onto a thick branch that extends far out from the tree with both hands. I pull my body up onto the top of the branch realizing I'm just over 3/4 of the way up the sturdy conifer. From this height I can feel the wind begin to pick up, rushing through the tops of the trees and pushing the large clouds through the sky. I scan up through the foliage seeing the distinctive smoke rising up from my house's chimney, it's about half a mile away from my current perch in the tree. Not wanting to keep our guest waiting, I push off of the branch I'm standing on with my legs. Letting out a deep breath as I safely land on another branch just to the right of the bare evergreen. Zig zagging through the trees I make my way through the forest, landing on lower and lower branches each time I jump.

I manage to reach the small clearing where my house is within a minute or two, I land on a birch tree on the edge of the clearing and I spread my weight between two branches. I leap down to the large oak that sits calmly across from my house, landing onto one of the top branches with both feet leaning my hand on a main branch that reaches out to the sky. Bending down I grab onto the thick limb that is supporting my weight, and I swing my legs down below the branch. I let myself dangle from the stalk for a few moments, letting the soft green leaves brush against my face and exposed legs. With a heavy sigh I let go of the branch, falling gently through the leaves and safely landing on the ground bending my knees on impact so that I can absorb the force. Standing up straight I stretch out my limbs and look myself over, making sure I didn't pull any muscles, or get any new scratches or cuts on the way home.