As a little girl, we lived close to a place called Riverview School. I think the streets names are Birch and Davis. I don't know for sure. I just know where I am going. Whenever things were too much for me to handle at home, I would take the short walk to the school. It was less than two blocks from where I lived.

At the far back of the school yard, the grass would always grow up tall. It would turn to the color of wheat. I would go in there and lay down on the tall grass. I could look up and watch the seagulls soar above me. I thought I could fly with them. The gentle wisps of cloud would, glide by now and then. The gentle breezes, would sway the tall grass that surrounded me. It would wave gently above me. I thought this way perfect.

Then one day, I wandered back into the evergreens - just beyond the edge of the school yard. As soon as I went behind the tree line fence, I could see something pure white. It caught my eye. It stood out, amongst left over fall leaves and new grass.
I walked a little closer, to try and see just exactly, what had caught my eye. As I got a little closer, I could see it was a bridge.

The sunlight now shone its beams of light, through the umbrella of tree branches over me. One of them, seemed to shine directly on the bridge. I got closer.
That is when I noticed, the man coming towards the bridge from the other side. The sun was so bright on his face and white shirt - I couldn't make out any of his features. His hair looked white, with the sun touching it so.

I stopped. I thought I would get into trouble for being here. He waved me to come closer. I was a very shy and withdrawn child. This was very scary for me. I thought I saw a smirk run across his face but, the light was shining so bright on his face - it was hard to know for sure.

I walked closer to him on the bridge and, as I did - I could see what lay beneath the bridge. The whole place was filled with little pink, purple, white and blue flowers. They were so small. There were so many of them. It looked like a river of flowers. The breeze would blow gently, the flowers would wave - it made it look like they were flowing like a river. Only offset by, the dark green leaves that would show in the movement. it was covered in these little flowers - as far along the gully as I could see. It was pink, purple, blue and white.

He must have seen my absolute captivation by the river of flowers. I did see him smile. I asked him what those were - he replied, 'Forget me knots.' "Do they just grow here - like this, all the time?" 'No,' he said, 'I have planted them.'
I was captured by the total beauty that surrounded me. After a few moments, he looked at me. My face had tear stains down the front - from earlier that day.

He cupped my face gently in his hand, turning it towards him and said, ' You can come back here anytime you like. My name is Mr. Wilson.' With that, he turned and walked away.

That was many, many years ago now. The white bridge has long since crumbled and been removed. Mr Wilson, hasn't been with us for a very long time now either but, the school yard remains. To this day, when things start to get to me - I take a step back, go to the school and swing on the swing set. The gentle breeze across my face brings me back to - a walk on the white bridge over, the river of Forget Me Knots.

Learn more about this author, Francesca Collins.
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