I woke up in a strange place… far stranger than anyplace I’d ever seen before. I was lying on the grass below me in a small clearing in a wooded area. As I opened my eyes lights around me flickered and swirled. The trees were hung with mini lanterns and bird houses made of twigs, leaves, and moss to hold them together that looked far too small for even the newborn hummingbirds. It wasn’t until I pulled myself off the ground to explore that I discovered that a bed made of leaves had been made just for me. It was cozy…
I glanced around at my surroundings. It was a calm little forest filled with the natural noises of… well, nature. From out in the distance a small babbling brook could be heard alongside a home for the toads. With every step I took in any direction I deemed necessary a light cloud of glimmering dust flew up behind me sounded with light twinkles and bells. Clouds of blue, green, and especially gold. Everything felt familiar… not like a dream, but more like a memory pounding at a button in my mind telling me to remember, begging me to recall my last visit… but I couldn’t, I just felt at home here. I pushed through the shrubs and trees to find a pathway leading to somewhere over the way. I felt compelled to follow, so I did.
I walked along the cobblestones in the middle of all the well taken care of grass. Everything here was absolutely beautiful. The skies couldn't have been bluer, the waters more clear, and even the rock more polished. I found my way to a beach... with a tremendous view of the caves and fish in the sea. Over the sparkling blue ocean I saw a ship. A ship with black and red striped sails. Deja vu haunted my bones... the feeling of seeing this all once before swarmed my mind. I stood in silence watching it drift by ominously, before heading back the way I came on my stone path.
Over the light rustles of the calm palm leaves was a tune playing. An annoyingly familiar tune... played by, maybe a flute. Instinctively and curiously I followed the direction I heard the music... despite that it led me off my stone path. I found a tree... Not any ordinary tree, there were plenty of those scattered about, but a dead tree. It was towering and black, but it still stood tall. Walking to the tune with a skip in my step I advanced closer and closer to the marvel that was... Hangman's Tree. I remember the name, but where it came from I still didn't understand.
For a while I swayed to the lovely music that played until it slowly came to a stop. I felt eyes on the back of my neck, and as I looked up I saw the dark appearance of a boy. The sun was shining behind him, making it impossible to see him directly. He floated down lightly and walked towards me cautiously. He was carved out of gorgeous. Fiery red hair, big brown eyes, beautiful thin lips. He wore all green clothes, and looked like an angel who spoke for the trees. He gingerly placed a hand on my cheek and smiled greatly. He knew me... well, I'm assuming. Yet, I had no idea who he was. He saw the look of confusion on my face, a frequent mask, a took a step back.
"Don't tell me you don't remember me..." he spoke calmly. I opened my mouth to say something, but retracted me thoughts and simply nodded. He smiled again and put his hands on either sides of my neck and pulled me closer to him, kissing me gently, but passionately.
"I've missed you..." he whispered into my ear hugging me. "I love you."
