by Donna Thacker

Created on: July 27, 2010

Sarah ran towards the forest behind her house. She could barely see because of the tears that streamed down her face. It didn’t matter, though, because she new the path well. Deeper and deeper her bare feet took her. It became cooler as she ran, yet her  tears continued to come in sobs. She gulped to continue breathing and running. Finally she collapsed in exhaustion, both physically and emotionally.

“Why? Why? Why?” Her mind screamed. Birds fluttered and then settled down to quiet. Had she screamed those words aloud? Surely not, she knew to be quiet in the forest so she didn’t disturb the creatures that lived there.

Sarah had had such happy times in the forest. She and her friends had played hiding games within the overgrown paths when they were young. She had walked through the forest with her first boyfriend. She had received her  first kiss deep within the security of the forest.

Sarah leaned against the old oak tree. Quiet now, from emotional exhaustion, she sat and listened to the sounds around her that she knew so well. The cool breeze from the forest’s shade relaxed her and she began to let her mind wander. She gazed in awe at the many things nature had to offer within the forest.

Her life had been structured around these forest walls. The beauty of the trees, plants and streams she had discovered over the years brought her much pleasure. A sob escaped her throat, and the tears began again.

She wrapped her arms around the huge old oak tree and laid her tear stained cheek against the cool rough bark. “I am so sorry.” She whispered.

When it started to get dark, Sarah got to her feet. She was not afraid of the forest’s dark paths. She wasn’t  afraid of the creatures that lived within the forest walls. She was afraid to stay any longer because her heart would surely break.

As she reached the forest edge, she turned for one last look.  It had not changed once in all of her growing up years. The beauty of it still took her breath away. Her eyes fell to the hated sign that was nailed to one of the trees. “Keep Out…Logging begins tomorrow.” Sarah started to cry as she backed away from her beloved forest.

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