Short Stories

Abandoned

Standing tall and straight, the trees looked down. They weren't scary or dying, they were just ordinary plain green trees. But they suffocated me. They were overbearing and spread for miles. A singular tree, perhaps, would be nice and soothing. Normally, plants don't stress me, but normally, I'm not alone. Trees, a great many of them, were the only thing around. Their leaves rustled in the wind and a gentle chill twisted and wrapped itself around me. 

It wasn't cold, neither was it warm. Shining down gently, the sun kept the temperature somewhat stable until occasional clouds blew over it and it became colder until they passed by. That sky was vast and I don't think I've ever felt as alone as I did then. Both the sky and the forest seemed to stretch on further than I would have been able to walk in a day.

My feet hurt. It had been on my mind for hours but I had yet to address it. Now it had settled in my brain and this thought was not going to leave. My feet hurt. I had no idea how far the road was and it would be even more dangerous to rest at night so I decided to stop there for a bit.

I wasn't old enough to understand fully but I at least knew I might have to run from something and would need to be prepared.

Sitting on some grass to the side I had used a tree to support my back and rest against. Removing my shoes I let my feet breathe.

I looked at my aching feet and thought back. I don't even know how long ago it was at this point, but I can still remember. How I wanted to play for longer and they said I could follow another path and they'd drive round to meet me at the end.

I don't remember who they were. At the time I might've had a better sense of that, but I don't anymore. I know they were supposed to take care of me but I don't think they wanted to. They may have been my parents or they may have been babysitters, perhaps neighbours who volunteered to watch over me. I don't believe I did anything bad as a child but honestly, my memory is a bit vague. I wondered, for a time, after I had been found if I was to blame. If I was such a terrible daughter or if my parents had no say in the matter. I thought and tried to justify it, deluding myself that my parents were truly innocent.

I don't do that anymore. If they wanted me they would report me missing or make an attempt to come to find me, to contact me. That never happened.

When I sat beneath that tree, as the wind gently blew the clouds away from the sun and its light could shine through, everything was uncertain. What would happen next was unknown to everyone. It was a terrifying situation to be in, with so many 'what if's'. Yet as I sat there, my childish mind just wanted the pain to stop. The notion of what was to come never occurred and it was probably a good thing. Otherwise, I may have given up then and there.