Crouched into being a tiny, unnoticed figure, I woke up. After a miserable attempt to keep my eyes shut, I chose to get up. My legs still felt weak because of too much running last night. The sun was shining brightly, directing its golden rays right inside my eyes. I scrunched.
It was already morning. I glanced at my watch which showed that it was 5 o'clock, which meant I had ample time to return to Grandma.
Slowly, I stretched my arms under the tree's shade I was lying and unwillingly pulled myself up.
Paranoia struck me. What if my eyes would still be puffed up because of yesterday? Would Grandma notice? Suddenly I remembered Jared's words. "Take deep breaths. Concentrate on your surroundings when you feel anxious."
Letting out a sigh, I looked around myself. The sun was gleaming over the hilltop, streaking the sky with a red and orange hue. The birds were merrily chirping on the branches of trees, the lapping of the river complementing the melody of birds. The cool morning breeze gently brushed my face.
I had missed this place for quite a while. The beauty of the place had gradually eroded over time, but it remained the best place for someone who wished to be at peace and solitude for some time.
No matter how sad I am, my heart always finds a way to heal here. Mum always said that wounds don't last forever, and they get healed. But all you're left with are the scars. Scars, they're ugly and remind you of the problems you've gone through. So even if this place-
Wait, there was something at odds with this morning and its radiance, where everything and everyone was supposed to be happy.
There was a sound of weak sobs of a girl.
Which was not me.
Was I still hearing echoes of my own self from last night? No. My ears could hear the sound very well.
Indeed, curiosity got the better of my negative self-talk and my eyes coordinated with my ears to search for the source of the sound. After a few minutes of confusion and search, it came to me that the sound was coming from something above my head.
Was it God himself weeping for my misery?
Or was it my mother from the sky watching me all the time?
Utterly baffled, I tried to revoke the intelligent, dormant Amber. After a few minutes of half meditation and half inspection, did I understand that the sound belonged to someone from inside the tree I was lying under.
I walked towards the tree, to find that the sound was intensifying. I looked all around but didn't find a single opening leading inside.
"Hello? Is someone inside?" I spoke in a cult manner.
No reply.
"Are you stuck inside?" I questioned.
No reply.
The curiosity sprouting in me a few minutes ago had started to die. After all the embarrassment yesterday, the last thing I wanted to do was comfort a crybaby. It was all too weird and irritating. I was half-inclined to yell at the coward inside.
"Do you want me to cut the tree to help you get out?" I said rather rudely.
It was now that the sobs turned into wails. A part of me wanted to run away from whoever the crazy person was crying inside. But the sorrowful wails stopped me from running away. Besides, I didn't want the person to silently suffer alone like me.
With my brain screaming at me to stop whatever the hell I was doing, my heart caused me to slightly brush the trunk of the old oak tree standing several feet higher than me. I wrapped my arms around the coarse trunk that barely covered half its circumference.
Ignoring the fact that I already am an idiot, I hugged the obscure person hidden inside the tree feeling like an idiot. Adding up to the stupid feeling creeping over me was a concerned feeling when I realised that the tree was slightly trembling.
My closed eyes flickered, my breaths suddenly racing. I almost felt like crying, because I knew that the girl trapped inside was just like me.
Silent tears flowed down my cheeks as I tried to comfort her in my embrace.
"It's alright, I'm here." I managed to whisper between slight sobs. Losing track of time, I purposely indulged in the moment.
A/N:-
Many social issues will be covered up in this story. Please comment on what you think about it. I'd love to know.
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Amber
Roman pour Adolescents"Your true reflection can heal you when you're caught up in your fears." Amber is a socially anxious young girl struggling to find meaning in life. The only friends she makes are a speaking tree and later, a mischievous girl who lives near the river...
