A gentle breeze brushed against my face as if welcoming me back. The pungent smell of wet dirt tickled my nose, not in the way that would draw out a sneeze, but in a pleasant way that drew out a smile.
The clearing was empty, and no heavy foot prints marred the greenery. No one had wandered into my sanctuary today. I was completely alone in the lone clearing I had stumbled upon ten summers ago when butterfly chasing had brought me further than Id ever gone before.
Down the banks of the river I had gone, until I couldnt see the smoke rising from our cottage chimney from the bread Mother had put to bake over a steady heat. Id hopped over the stone Id dried crayfish on in the summer before when my cousins came to enjoy a river bath in our favorite pool.
The butterfly paused on a low-hanging branch as if waiting for me to catch up then, flew on again as if in a game of tag.
It went on like that for a while until eventually; I lost sight of the little beauty. Panic settled in when I didnt recognize my surroundings and I ran until I stumbled on something and tumbled through some brush.
When I looked up, it was as if time had frozen. The clearing was beautiful.
Knee-length grass swayed gracefully in the wind, accompanied by yellow tulips-a rarity in this part of the continent. The trees stood in a perfect circle and sunlight washed in from where their tops didnt greet.
Ill never forget the day I discovered this place, partially because mother had accidentally hit me with the belt buckle when shed gotten carried away with punishing me for wandering off. The dark brown scar pinching the skin above my right eyebrow would never allow me to forget.
The breeze caressed my face, and all the flowers and grass danced a slow sway. A calming sight I enjoyed whenever I finished my chores early enough to sneak off.
Mother would leave me without supper if I ever wandered off without completing everything on the long list, she would leave next to my bed before leaving for work in the morning.
The sun warmed my bronze skin gently. It was the perfect condition to take a quick nap.
Carefully, I laid out the blanket I had brought along as to not disturb the lush too much and threw myself upon it in the most unladylike fashion.
I giggled.
Mother would throw a fit if shed ever seen me behaving in such a manner.
But, Mother wasnt here. No-one was. I was safe here from the haughtiness of society, with their stiff postures and upturned noses.
I was safe. My eyelids grew heavy as the sunlight faded.
Five minutes. I would rest my eyes for only five minutes.
**********
I woke with a gasp. Something cold had brushed against my face. I cast my eyes around the clearing, washed in the brilliant light of the pale moon, and saw no one. It must have been a flower.
I looked up at the stars staring down at me from their heavenly perch and my lips curled into a smile. The sky was a magical place.
A shiver raced through me, and I frantically packed up the blanket. I had overslept. Mother will surely add extra chores onto my list tomorrow in hopes of deterring me from wandering off.
Something shuffled behind me, and I froze.
My, my, I do hope you arent cold my dear, a rich, velvety voice chimed and my eyes grew wide as saucers. I had looked around but a minute ago, no one was here. Where did this man come from? I had to leave. I had to leave now.
