Who Are We Here?

The Old Willows

A high school creative writing English project. A twist on short storytelling and poetry with freestyle.

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The earth was calm.
The ground stood still and the sky sunken in fog and tints of pink, green and orange.
The sun was barely showing itself over the crowns of the trees.
The soil was moist and the rocks were shining in shades of grey,
And with my feet, as delicate as I could, quickly swift over the tender grounds filled with broken branches and leaves.
I slow my pace and walk steadily through the emerald and hazel coloured woods.
As I walked through the old willows, a scent filled my lungs; the scent of dew grass and moss.
The sight of the trees stretched across the horizon for miles it seemed.
The old willows swayed in the cool winds and the sun glistened off each and every leaf.
Around the bases of the trees lay roses and bluebells.
The beauty that was in each piece of nature was enchanting.
I kept forward until I reached a small stream.
The water flowed east and was clear.
It made the stones on the bottom shine silver.
They shimmered in my eyes like diamonds.
I kneeled and dipped my hands in the crystal flowing water.
It made me feel calm; the silk touch on my hands made me feel peaceful.
I inhaled the soothing air; exhaled all of my thoughts, and listening to the sounds of the wind.
The breeze, the buzzing bees and the chirping and chattering of robins whistled through the morning sky.
Quiet, aloof; calm as it was, it still seemed that danger was lurking.
It felt like even though there was light, at the same time, there could be dark.
Darkness in the woods, darkness in the old willows; the way the feeling felt was indescribable.
As I rose up from the water, I could feel the wind picking up its current.
My eyes began tearing from the nipped air.
I stepped from the stream and back onto the cool dirt.
I picked my feet up from the ground and started to run.
I ran; I ran as fast as I could.
Sweat poured from my skin and the taste of bittersweetness began to fill in my saliva.
I could feel my heartbeat in my throat.
My feet began tingling with numbness.
As if I were running on small pins and pine needles.
I ran fast, with the wind streaming around my arms and legs.
Like whips at all different angles.
I felt like I could grow wings and fly into the golden sky.
Running; being forever free.
I could smell freedom of the old willows.
The old willows were the gates to the outside of the woods.
I kept running through the thick trees until I saw something.
I slowed down until my feet came to a halt.
Dark, rumbling clouds began to fill what was now an ocean of blue above my head.
A single tear fell upon my face from the heavens above.
A single drop of rain ran down my flushed cheek.
I gently took the base of my palm to wipe it away.
I stared up longer and could see flashes of light in behind the clouds and beyond.
Then, a sudden bolt raced out of the sky.
A flash of light and electric shards struck down and hit the earth.
It rattled the ground; so to make my feet shiver.
I stopped in shock and silence.
Starring out into the darkness from the sky, I began to smell the perfume of something wicked and cruel.
I wiped away all my unwanted thoughts and watched as something slowly floated down from the sky; something small, as if a small piece of leaf or tissue paper.
When it got closer, it looked like snow, grey and black snow.
Ash; I looked around seeing this mystery falling around me everywhere.
Although, it didn't seem like a mystery at all; for the lightning-caused a rush through my body.
Then, at a sudden moment, for I knew what I smelt; it was smoke.
Black and grey clouds filled above my head and above the crowns of the treetops.
I locked my eyes ahead and could see racing colours of red, orange and yellow appearing over the horizon line.
The wind blew the dark clouds of fear and incense towards me; leading it west, towards me.
I could hear the sounds of the old willows branches crackling.
This flame was burning life.
It seemed tragic itself.
I fell to my knees in the roughened soil just gazing upon the fire.
I felt the heat on my skin from the torturous flame moving closer.
Fire spread wild; as if it were to be the Lord's wings let flight.
The rapidness of the old willows dying could not be forced to any stop.
The old willows were almost all gone and I was surrounded by a field of black ash and fire.
I could feel the burning feeling of flame against my hands, the heat against my face,
The tingling of something brutal; I was burning.
I stayed there.
My vision was blurring; my skin was tingling with white heat.

As if the fire was silver and gold dagger blades, cutting against the pores of my skin.
I laded amongst the earth
Just waiting, waiting for something to happen.
My body in this hot pain and dreading death; I was praying for my safety; the safety of myself and the safety of the old willows. I never seized the day that was before me now.

Dying, I knew I was dying.
Although, with sights turning white and lights getting brighter,
I could see that the old willows will never truly die; and will be forever loved.
And though I was dying, I knew I would never again be alone.
With my one true love, never will I regret this perfect day of a gorgeous morning to a horrific ending.
It was a perfect ending to a perfect life.
Never will time have been lost.
And though I knew this pain was all in my head, my life will stay forever be in this tale.
My life was a book, and I was each and every page.
With life being short, and life being dark, I looked upon where I could have been; back in the past, when the old willows had died.
Back when nature and beauty took a toll, and not hatred, fear, crime, and injustice ruled overall.
And though I knew this pain would forever stay in my heart, never will I forget, my one true friend, forever be known as the old willows.