IGCSE Paper 2 Writing Practices

Hidden Summer (Descriptive)

Describe an object you find hidden somewhere outdoors.

It was just another usual summer afternoon. The sky blazed blue and the sun casts its brilliant, passionate rays onto the paddy fields that were arranged like granny squares across the mountains dressed in evergreens. Wafts of warming breeze danced along with the long, melodious songs of the cicadas, carrying with them a sweet scent of wheat and yellow poppies. And yet it was scorching hot enough to prompt me to cycle vigorously down the rocky roads every after school just to reach the comfort of my cool room.

But that day was an exception.

A glimpse of reflected light flashed in the corner of my eye, conspicuous enough to let me notice that it came from the forest beside. With a light thump, I dropped my bicycle to the ground and followed my curiosity. 

If the earth has breaths it rose through the trees. Sunlight squeezes its way through the gaps of their verdant hues, forming various golden dots of light that hop back and forth across the forest floor as the trees swayed gently along with the summer wind. They sprinkled right on the petite,  colourful poppies, the scattered rainbow that they are. I don't remember the forest being so charming before, perhaps it's just the artwork of time.

And there it was, hiding beneath a shallow patch of poppies. Like a curtain I pulled away its vibrant coverings and unveiled the object. It was a white, transparent crystal tinted with faint hues of dark, wine red; a rock carefully carved in a shape resembling a donut. In fascination I held it up in my hands, its texture as smooth as the luxurious marble floors in the cities, where not a single crack or scratch is present. A seemingly hand-braided rope dyed in a bright, blood red was tied around the donut hole. Is this someone's necklace? I thought, as I held the crystal high up by the rope; its rigid, nylon strings scraping against my skin as it dangles left and right. Under the sunlight the crystal shines like the surface of crystaline waters; a splinter of rainbow covered my vision as I gaze at it fascinately.

Suddenly, a white blob flashed before my eyes as I felt the necklace broke free from my grip. In shock I glance over the serrated bushes on my right, where a sublime creature stood in magnificence. It's fur is the purest snow ever existed, tapering down to its legs like an ivory, silky coat; which is now glittering under the patches of sunlight. The creature gazed at me with eyes of great serene; the necklace dangled from its mouth as it quickly turned away and sprinted into the woods. 

The same sun that sent flowers bursting from their fresh, petite buds now turns the entire forest into hues of gold. The grasses, now shining under a star-lit stage, brushed across my knees until they too had grown still; and the cicadas now leaving their stage for the crickets. The forest made its last breath and rested. The creature is gone.

(506 words)