Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 9

Into the woods I go.

It is only 7:30 a.m. but I am so excited to get back to the swing, I can't even wait another minute. I am wearing jeans, and a blue top, and have the same leather bag. I am almost literally running out the door, as quietly as possible, because I don't want to wake up Mom.

Her room is right next to the door, so when ever I leave early in the morning, I have to be extra quiet. I left her a note, so she doesn't freak out, she always panic's when I don't, even if she knows I am going somewhere. It's one of her flaws.

The path to the bridge is hard to find. Everything here looks the same, same trees, same bushes, same rocks and bark. I finally find the path I made yesterday, by taking rocks and aligning them in a path. It wasn't very good, being as I did it in 5 minutes, but it helps me out.

I follow all the rocks to the bridge of branches, and walk across it. I notice the door to the shed is open. I assume by the wind, because if was pretty windy last night, but it just seems odd.

I drop my bag off by the tree, and sit on the swing again. I am still looking at the shed, and I swear I saw something move inside. It's nothing. I tell myself, and push myself so I am swinging back and forth. But, it doesn't feel like it did yesterday. Maybe it's because not all of my min did focused on swinging. 50% is focused on that little wooden shed.

I can't stop looking at it, and the more I do, I realize it's not that little. It's at least the size of my mom's bed room, and appears to have supplies inside. Obviously someone is using it, but I'm not sure who or why.

I put my feet down to stop the swing, but just end up tripping, and rolling over my head. I hear a slight laugh, but I am pretty sure I am hearing a lot of things as I topple down the hill, landing with my legs wrapped around a tree, with my face not 5 feet from the trunk. I fall back onto my back, landing in a pile of leaves.

I let out a long breathe.

I hear footsteps, and I try to turn, but leaves cloud my vision. I am looking up at the trees and there leaves, as a pair of lovely blue eyes come into view. I have never seen anything so extravagant in my life. I can see his muscles flex as he helps me up from this pile of dirt and leaves.

It takes me a few seconds to catch my breathe, and for my eyes to focus, but when they do, I can see a boy who can't be much older than I am. He has brown hair that looks almost blonde, it is so light. "You okay?" he asks

"Fine," I say, and brush the hair from my face, and eyelashes, "Just fell, no blood," today, I think.

He laughs a little, "Maybe, but it was a pretty steep fall."

"True, but I wasn't hurt,"

He is still laughing when he says, "You are an interesting character, aren't you?" I want to respond with something like, 'you have no idea', but instead just smile, before trudging my way back up the hill.

He was right, it was a pretty steep fall, and it's kind of hard to get my footing right in some parts. The man is following me up, helping me when I loose footing, and it's kind of uncomfortable.

When I reach the top, I quickly grab my bag, and head for the bridge. I duck my head to go under the branches of the trees covering the top, only to have him grab my hand, he sighs before saying, "You do have a cut," he gestures for my leg and I look down. There is a cut, and a pretty big one, "I'll clean it when I get home," I say, "It's not too far from here,"

"Okay." He says

I tighten the straps on my bag, and continue through the bridge, and to the other side. I follow my path of rocks to the house, to find Mom outside picking apples from the tree, "Back so soon?" she asks

"I just fell. I though I should clean it, as soon as possible," I show her my leg.

"I'm glad you came back, it's pretty bad," she drops her basket of apples, and practically pushes me inside. She lifts me up onto the counter, like I am 5 years old, and grabs the first aid kit to clean and wrap the wound. It stings a little, but it always does.

Mom must be used to me getting hurt, when I was little, I'd always fall and scrape my legs or get a bruise on my arm. Mom couldn't keep me inside. I guess I never liked the idea of being trapped between 4 walls, when there was so much to explore beyond it. Mom always was in between 4 walls, that's where her life was, and still is.

Mom wasn't one to complain, though, she liked it inside. I never understood why, and maybe I never will. I wish I could understand Mom, she was just so hidden. I would get to know her more, if she'd open up, but as I've gotten older, I've realized Mom is just a rock, and she won't crack. You can't see the inside of her unless you cut through her. And once you get to the middle, you might want to no longer see it, but there are only 2 ways to do that. Get rid of the rock or do a crappy job of closing it up, leaving a small crack where you can see the inside, because you can't close it up again.

Mom, I wish I had a dandelion to wish to really know you, but I don't. You have to be willing to open up for me, and the world. If you aren't we might just ignore the little rock, or pry.