Broken Memories☄

Part 3

A dead amber leaf caught my eye as it fell swiftly from the branches above.

I averted my gaze to the tree’s limbs over my head, swaying in the cold autumnal breeze.

Tucked in the arms of a branch about twelve inches from my head, I noticed something folded in a zip-lock bag that drew my attention.

I resisted temptation - some things are better left unknown.

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I began to head back towards the way I came, kicking the crispy dead leaves on the path as I walked.

The potent glare of the setting sun shone on my tear stained face, shedding some light on a somewhat oppressive and melancholy mood.

My mind wandered back to the bag in the tree, our tree.

Of the thousands of them in this place, why that tree?

Why our tree?

Something so significant to us, so remote, who could have put that there?

Only someone who knew about it could have... It must be for me!

Only Michael knew about it, he’s the only one who’s ever been here with me… Why did I not realise before!

I stopped promptly in my tracks and turned around, walking back towards it.

My steady walk turned into a paced jog.

The jog turned into a desperate, eager sprint.

I puffed my way down the track as my feet thumped and pounded on the uneven, muddy ground.

My heart raced out of my chest, questions surging impatiently through my mind.

I needed to know.