The forest inside me

Chapter 3:

"Hello! I am home," yells dad when he comes home. I've watched Ragnarok for half an hour and I only have 15 minutes left of this episode. I don't bother answering him. He is coming upstairs and into the bathroom. He washes his hands and comes to my door. He knocks.

"Come in!" "Hey, have you eaten?" he asks. I shake my head: "No, wasn't hungry. You're preparing dinner?" "I taught I'd make some risotto. That's quick and simple," he says. "Sounds good. I am going to finish this episode and than go to park for a little while. Okay?" I look back at the screen and pause it. He closes the door a bit and says: "I'll call you when the dinner is ready." "Thanks, dad," I say, and he closes the door fully. I unpause my series and keep on watching.

15 minutes pass quickly. I close my laptop and put it back on the table and plug the charger back in. I look at the globe. It's shining its usual white. I intensely look at it: "What are you? Some kind of magical object that will lead me to nice notes? Or does any of this have anything to do with my mother? At the end of the day, she was the one who got me you." In the end, I point my finger at it. Nothing. I mean, cuz I expected something. P.S. That was sarcastic. 

Whatever. I take my sweater from the chair next to the table. I love this sweater. Iza bought it for me. Of course it's green. Emerald green specificly. I always talked to her about how I want a rain coat in this colour with a big hood and with a belt. I once tried to draw it, but something happened and it got deleted. I gave up on it afterwards. This sweater is my go to outfit and I wear it all the time. I jog downstairs and tell dad that I'm leaving.

Since it's only march, it's still chilly outside. I shiver a little. Maybe I should have put on something warmer. I walk pass the houses and observe their front porches. Every single one is different. Some have swings, some only sofas. I really like those wooden ones with swings. My ideal porch would be like that and it would have roses grown around the fence and up the pillars. Across the swing would be a small bench, that would be loaded with pillows. 

I take a left at the end of our street. Some old lady with her dog passes me and her little hairy dog barks at me. Funny, how little dogs present themselves as tough when they're so little and cute. I turn right and then left soon after. 

And here I am, at the park. It's a small one. I used to come here almost everyday when I was little. I would go on a swing or go down the slide. Iza and I sometimes hang out here on holidays. There is a place for kids and there is a lot of lawn, perfect for having a picnic or reading a book. I walk to the pair of swings and sit on one. I swing for a while. 

Why do I feel disappointed? Did I expect something? Well, I did think I'll find another note here. Maybe the globe is wrong or I was too fast. I jump off the swing and walk to the nearest tree. It's a horse chestnut. I place my hand on it and spin around it. It's around six o'clock and the sun is starting to set. The light is beautiful. Golden beams of light shine in between the leaves. 

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pick it up and it reads: "Dinner is ready." Time to go home. I walk towards the pavement, but something in me holds me back. For some reason I have to go back and check again. I gave in to the urge and turned back. As soon as the swings come back into view, I stop in my tracks. There is a note... But how? I didn't see anyone and the note wasn't here before. I take the note and turn it around. There is a message written in black ink:

"You can see, what you want to see. All you need is to wish it enough." 

What? I do not have the time to figure out, what does it mean, so I fold it and put it in my pocket. Then I head home with a ton of questions in my head.

****

I close the door behind me as I come in. I walk to the kitchen still in a bit of shock. I have to act normal, othervise dad will suspect something and I don't want to worry him more. He finally got better after mum left. So I put on a fake smile.