Writing Prompts For The Strange

Creative Writing Assignment, "Tree" (My safe Haven; My Escape)

My Safe Haven; My Escape.

This place it is always my escape. the place I go to when I need a break from reality, to leave behind everything and one I know. I can pretend I'm someone I'm not; a different person and no one can judge me for it no one can tell me what to do and how to do it. With their judgemental eyes, saying I'm doing it wrong that I need to perfect it before my inauguration in two years. When I'm crowned king of this stupid kingdom, I never asked to be born into royalty to be forced into a life I don't enjoy, a life with no freedom no free time, no time to myself, not even time to be a kid. I'm always learning how to rule "my" kingdom and properly run the political system. It's always been like this, I've never gotten to experience my childhood. Never got to have friends because as my parents put it, "You can't afford to make friends with the likes of peasants." So I don't even know what it's like to play or connect with another human being besides my servants, but they don't like me or my family thinking will be just like my parents so they aren't really my "friends" per say. So now I was sitting in my favorite place, my safe heaven that no one knew about it wasn't on castle grounds so no one in the castle would stumble upon me on accident. My safe haven was a great big willow tree it roots tangling with each other and other small plants grow near it. Its large branches hanging down encasing the trunk and base of the tree in a Vail. Protecting It from the bright rays of sunlight. Making it cooler under it then on the outside of it. A slight breeze passing by making the vine-like branches sway in the wind like it's dancing. It had always calmed me down to where I can get away from my "royal duties" and feel like a normal 16-year-old boy for once in my life.

I had never expected to have someone show up at my tree all of a sudden especially a girl at that. Who was she and why was she at my safe haven? She seemed shocked to see and quickly got down on her knees, "Oh please forgive me prince Sebastian I didn't mean to disturb you..." she had said. I frowned not liking being bowed to, I never had it made them look like some pet we could do whatever we pleased with like we were some type of god. I hated it they were people to just not as rich as my family was, but that didn't make us any better than them. "Please don't now to me I hate it when people do that," I said frown still present on my face. She looked up startled at my words her red enlarging to the size of does. It made her look so innocent and beautiful. "What is your name?" I asked excited to finally speak with someone around my age. "My names Evelyn but call me Eve please," Eve said looking down with a tint of red on her face. "How old are you?" I questioned. "ah Six-Sixteen." she stuttered out not used to people talking to her or even notice her at all he was the first and it left a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Wh-why are you here prince Sebastian?" she had asked. He frowned at the title, "just call me Sebastian please." I said with a smile. "o-okay why are you here Sebastian?" she asked again. "Because this tree is my safe heaven my escape sort of ." I said looking up at the maze or branches above me, "it makes feel like I can be just an ordinary boy that isn't tied down by rules and requirements of the crown." I reply a tear slipping past my eyes. I hadn't even noticed she was crouched in front of me till her fingertips lightly brushed the tear falling down my face. Shocked I quickly snapped my head down to look into her hazel eyes. I know how you feel, I feel the same way. I come here because I feel safe wrapped up in the vine-like branches as if it's a mother's embrace giving me a hug saying everything is going to be okay. I come here to feel wanted to forget about my life in the village, where the kids all bully me because I have no mother and my father is the village drunk. I have no one and hated by everyone. You're the first person to speak to me like a normal person like I'm not some freak." She said closed eyed smiling at me tears leaking from her eyes. I pulled her into a hug both of us just sitting there in silence enjoying the others presence and the sounds of leaves rustling. "How about we become friends today and meet here under this tree every day at the six in the evening?" I suggested smiling at her wiping her tears away. She smiled back and nodded her head, "Just know if one day I don't show up I'm sorry..." She replied staring at the setting sun. if only I had known the meaning behind that statement back then.

<One Month Later>

I stood waiting under the willow tree at six in the evening for Evelin. Not knowing that she would never again meet me under this tree, never smile, laugh and cry with me ever again. I waited every day for a week thinking maybe she was sick till a small boy of maybe 8 showed up face red from old tears. "Hi, little boy what are you doing out here alone?" I asked crouching to his height. "I-I'm Evelin's little brother..." he mumbled out crying again. "I-I came to-to tell you that Evelyn is dead she-she h-hung herself a few nights ago in the barn on-on our fa-farm." He cried out running into my chest hugging me. Was Evelyn dead? Why would she kill herself? Was her life that painful to live? I hugged the little boy silently crying also. "She wrote a letter asking me to come and tell why she was gone and that she was sorry for living you. The boy said holding back his tears. "Thank you little one, now why don't you go run along back home," I said turning him around and lightly pushing him in the direction he came from. I turned back to the tree I loved so much the branches sagging more the usually as if it was sad that Evelyn was gone also. I smiled at it on more time before taking out my knife carving her name and mine name into the base of the trunk with a quote under it. Two different people dreaming to be someone they're not. I stepped back satisfied and turned around walking away.

<Three Years Later>

It's been so long since I've been to this tree the bark is chipping and the branches are starting to die, but the quote was still there slightly covered by bark that grew over it. I had come to recover it and remember the good times I had. Finished carving I laid under the tree still getting that feeling of safety well being here. I closed my eyes picturing Evelyn back when she was still alive smiling at it. "I'm now king of our wretched kingdom," I whisper out as if she was here lying next to me. "But I promise to make it better, to treat my people like people, not pets, to respect my servants and cherish my children. To make this place as beautiful as this willow tree and as bright as you." I say out loud talking to the sky. The wind picked up speed rapidly blowing the vines, but it was a warm breeze as if being hugged by someone. I smiled knowing it was Evelyn somehow saying I believe in you. I got up heading back to the castle with determination to make this kingdom right again for her, for me, and for everyone in it...

The End...