Emerald Willow

Chapter 6

Oakley's P. O. V.
Four years later
It's been four years since I've seen that girl in the forest. I sometimes wonder why she was in there all alone. Who would let their child run around in the woods all alone especially when there are so many dangerous things in those woods? I wish I knew her name. I doubt she remembers me. I never did tell my dad about seeing her. That trip into the woods was our last one before we moved to the city. It was too hard to stay in the same house we lived in with mom. Living near the woods where she was killed just made it so much harder. Although I miss the fresh, clean crisp of the air and the glorious night sky that was lit with the stars that look like paint splatters in the sky. The city isn't a bad place. It's very different. I see the men dressed in suits and the woman dressed like the models in the magazines. I've never seen so many buildings in the same spot!
Our apartment is really nice. It has a balcony that overlooks the long wide streets filled with crowds of people. There's always a buttery pastry smell in the air since a bakery was nearby. I begged for dad to take me to that bakery and he told me he would when we got settled in.He started his new job in the lumber business. He works all day collecting wood and packaging it and then shipping it off all over the state. He's really happy with his job, he has made so many friends. I feel like he's finally found his happiness again after mom had passed away. Too bad I haven't found my happiness. Although it's great out here in the city, I miss the little things like our old creaky first step on the front porch, the little animals that would come visit me in my room since I would leave the window open all day and the way that girls eyes looked like golden sap that had freshly fallen from an old oak tree. Even though we barely met, I felt like we had some kind of connection. I wonder if she remembers me or even thinks about me? She probably doesn't. I mean she only saw me for a few minutes and that was four years ago. Oh who am I kidding, she's probably not even in those woods anymore. I just have to accept fate and try to make friends here in the city. I just hope they don't judge me for the way I look in my tore up blue jeans and faded out flannel shirt. I hope I can fit in here. I really want to make this work for my dad. So I'll just keep quiet and to myself, letting him be happy with our new life. He deserves to be happy even if that means if I never find my own happiness. I enter into my new room and kneel beside my bedside. I clasp my hands together, bow my head and begin to mumble in a prayer,
"Mom if you're hearing this, I just wanted to tell you that I miss you so much. Dad misses you too. I wish you were still here with me and dad. We need you so much more right now. I need you. I love you so much mom and I'll talk to you tomorrow night."
I looked up at the wrinkled faded blue sheets and crawled into bed. I curled up into the blankets, turned out the lights and closed my eyes whispering into the darkness,
"Goodnight mom, I love you."