Sorry and Thank You

Autumn

***

I frown as my boot squelches onto another patch of mud, I heave my foot up to get it out of the heavy sludge, only for said foot to slip out of the boot and I fall back, luckily, not onto hard rocks.

I frown even more when a crisp laugh sounds in front of me, I glare up at him, "stop laughing!"

He holds a hand out to me, while holding his stomach with the other, still giggling, "s-sorry... it was just... really funny."

"Not funny to me..." I grumble, accepting his hand.

As I yank my boot out of the mud and slot my foot into it, I ask, "where are we going anyway? We've been walking for ages already."

"It's only been a couple hours, but we're almost there, I promise."

"Didn't you say that like half an hour ago? And another half an hour before that?"

He stays frustratingly silent, and I trudge after him. Looking around at the yellowish leaves on the trees around us as I do.

The air feels cooler than when it was summer just a couple days ago, bringing with it a smell of wet dirt and leaves, the remaining rain from morning.

"We're here," he finally announces, and we emerge from the trees to a small cliffside, looking over a forest and--

"Is that a double rainbow?!" I yell.

"I usually see rainbows here after the rain, but that's not nearly as important. Look down, look down!"

"What could be more important than a double rainbow? We need a photo, you do know how rare those are... right..." I trail off as I look down.

There, seemingly going on till infinity, is a sea of burning crimson trees, rustling with the wind to create waves. As the setting sun lays its light on the leaves, it almost looks like a treasure trove of gold.

"Beautiful isn't it? You're the first one I brought here," he whispers with glee.

I nod dumbly, unable to tear my eyes away from the golden sea.

Is this what your world is like? How can I see it again?

***