Wonders of Elsewhere: Thoughts and Dreams and Other Oddities

The Oak Tree (short story)

I leaned against my favorite tree in the vast park, a mighty oak tree. The tree was in the center of a clearing in a secluded area of the park. No one really ventured over here because it was so far from the path. I looked around just in case and didn't see anyone, so I sank to the ground at the base of the tree.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my sketchbook. There was this beautiful statue I had been sketching for a few days and I was determined to finish it today. I sketched each intricate detail, so focused on my task I didn't hear the rustle of leaves above me.
"That's really good!" I startled from my work and my pencil whipped across the page. I stared at the mark in disbelief. "Sorry..." the voice came again and I looked around for her. Suddenly a girl's face appeared in front of mine! I stared as she hung from the tree, stunned and a little scared she would fall.
She didn't. Instead she hauled herself back onto the branch and jumped down in front of me. She had short, dark brown hair and big brown eyes, round with curiosity. "I'm Sky, what's your name?" I stared blankly before realizing I needed to respond. "James."
"I really admire your art, it's a shame it's ruined now, I'm really sorry about that." I glanced down at the page to assess the damage. It wasn't too bad, just a light mark across half the page. It could have been worse. "It's fine, I can fix it." Her face brightened. "Really!? That's a relief."
I shrug and set to work on drawing. When I'm finished, I glance back at the statue and notice a plaque at the base. The words swim in my head as I carefully add it to the drawing, and she looks on intently. It's always a little unnerving when people watch me draw. I don't feel like my art is good enough for that much attention. I turned the page and subtly angle it away from her. "What are you going to draw now?"
I look up at her and my imagination runs wild with the possibilities. She tilts her head and her hair falls into place to frame her perfect face, pale with freckles. "Just stay like that." A smile stretches across her face and she doesn't move. "Can I see?"
I think about it, I almost don't want her to but it is her likeness after all. "Not yet." The statue stands out behind and I sketch out a warrior. Strong, brave, beautiful, and curious. "Only in the darkness can you see the stars and only when the light is gone do you realize what is in front of you." I drew the warrior staring up at the stars, around her were not enemies, but the featureless faces of her allies.
I was so engrossed I didn't notice that the sun had started to go down, or that Sky had moved to see the drawing. I felt my face heat and she reached her hand out to touch the page. "It's beautiful." The last rays of sunlight shown onto the page and before we knew it, it was dark.
"You're really talented," she remarked. "Can I get your number to get a copy of this? I want to frame it." Before I could respond, the statue in front of us started to shimmer a golden yellow, illuminating our surroundings.
It was beautiful, as if the stars had descended to Earth just for them. I reached out my hand in a daze and felt the warm glow of the stars. I turned to Sky and she was just as entranced, a golden hue reflected across her eyes.
And then as suddenly as the light had appeared, it was gone. I couldn't let this beautiful image go to waste, so I hurriedly turned the page in my sketch book and sketched a rough outline of the two of us against this tree with the stars descending around us. I realized too late that I had drawn myself looking at Sky and turned to see her enraptured in my drawing as much as we had been by the stars. She hadn't noticed it yet so I closed the sketchbook.
"The writing on the statue, do you think whoever built it knew about the golden light?" I turned to Sky. "It would be hard not to know. And no one really comes out here so it's not surprising that no one knows about it." Sky tilted her head, "I come here every day and I've never seen that happen before."
"Well the plaque did say the stars only come out at night," I chuckled a little at my bad joke and Sky started laughing too. "That's not what that means!" I looked up at the stars again and then glanced at my phone. "It's getting late, I should start heading home."
"Will I see you again?" Turning back to Sky I flashed a grin and said, "Of course, I'll be here, same time tomorrow." She smiled too. "See you tomorrow then!" And then she turned and went in the opposite direction. I gazed after her till she was out of sight and then packed up my things.

We met up at the tree at least once a week after that and eventually I got the courage to ask her out... Sorry, she asked me out. But nothing lasts forever.

Sky looked up at the stars from her perch on the grand oak tree. Today was different and she couldn't stop pretending it wasn't. It wasn't the same without James there. The sun went down just over the horizon once more, and maybe for the last time, the world around her glowed a shimmering golden. She imagined the stars forming his shape and knew. "We'll meet again," she said to the stars. "One day."

Uploaded: April 2, 2026

A/N: this is a short story I started a few years back and never finished, but I finally decided to finish it and I think it turned out pretty good. It's inspired by We'll Meet Again -TheFatRat and yes I know there is actual lore behind those songs, but this has nothing to do with that (it's definitely not cuz I didn't understand the lore)