Weeping Willows

Chapter 20

Almost Paradise

                The next day Elizabeth found herself waking around noon.  Rolling over she moaned miserably into her pillow.  Last night after everyone had said goodbye and left, she had stayed up until the late hours setting her house back to the way it had been.  She had been hoping to be so tired that her body would just sleep right through her birthday.  It was wishful thinking though and as the sun light up her room brilliantly it showed her just how alone she would be this year.  With depression settling on her like a thick fog Elizabeth got up to start her day.

                She moved around her bed making it up as ideas to distract herself played in her thoughts.  She toyed with each one before dismissing it as not being what she was looking for.  Problem was she didn’t know what she wanted just that it had to be a damn good diversion.  Her eyes jumped around the room trying to find something before she fell into wallowing the day away.  At that miserable thought her gaze landed on the box of letters across the room.  Elizabeth had been kept so busy lately she hadn’t found time to read another one.  With a sad smile in place she opened the lid deciding it was just what she needed.

                                                                                                                                                July 12, 1917

Dearest loved ones,

                I am regretfully sorry that it has taken me so long to write you.  Hopefully none of you thought the worst of fates had befallen me.  I find myself busy as of late with new recruits coming in to replace those that have fallen.  This is the first moment of peace I have found in the last weeks.  There was nothing I wanted to do more then to contact all of you.  You have all been heavy in my thoughts everyday as I hope I have been kept in yours. 

                I sit here in the sweltering heat and I can not help but think of summer days back at home.  Remember the hidden spring that we found on our land that one summer when I was but a boy?  We would play there every year after that enjoying ourselves until late in the evenings.  I remember chasing little Annie through the Willows trying to catch her before she got there.  Ruth, you would always scold us as you usually caught up at the creek.  I remember how we would sing and laugh following the water with the sun warming our backs.  I will never forget that feeling of excitement at parting the moss curtain that hid our spot away.  I recall with such clarity how we would all stay past the sunset just to watch the lightening bugs come out.  Mother you were always so cross with us on those days as we wouldn’t be seen until dark.  Those are some of my fondest memories and I recall them now for the comfort they offer wishing we could all visit there now.  When this war has finally ended, and I find myself home we must go out there again.

                I find I must cut this letter short as I still need to rest for today.  Before I part however, I wanted to wish you sweet one a Happy Birthday even though this year is not quite so joyous.  I wish you all good health and I love you each dearly.

Sincerely,

William Bennett

                Elizabeth sat there in shock as she reread his last lines.  Whose birthday had it been?  George’s maybe?  He hadn’t addressed him in the letter as he usually did but the thought didn’t feel quite right.  Could it have been one of his sisters’ then but why not just say which one?  Reading the words once again made Elizabeth feel like he was talking to a lover.  Who was this new girl and why had he not mentioned her before?  Her thoughts soured with a tinge of jealousy that surprised her.  She had never met William before, but she still couldn’t help her dislike for his mystery woman.  As she read his words again, she couldn’t help feeling as if they were meant for her.  She rolled her eyes at the absurdity of the thought, but it still brought her a little comfort.  She supposed there was nothing wrong with feeling soothed by the words no matter who they were written for.

                As she placed the letter back with the rest an idea began to form.  With a smile and a slight trill of excitement going through her she went over to retrieve her supplies.  Grabbing an old beat up canvas bag she tossed in her sunscreen, a towel, and a dry set of clothes.  She added a plastic sack, then a pad of paper larger than her sketchbook, and at last she tossed in her pastel chalks.  She changed into her clean swimming clothes that had been laundered since Saturday then made her way to the kitchen.  Grabbing some leftover snacks from last night and a couple bottles of water she was ready to set off.

                Closing her door behind her she let the screen door swing back as she left.  There was a bit of a skip in her step as she hustled to the willow grove.  Moving carefully, she traipsed over the exposed roots pushing the flowing branches out of the way.  She took caution of her steps until she had finally cleared the trees.  Elizabeth stood for a moment thinking back to the letter.  Next was the creek she remembered and hoped after all this time it was still there.  Setting off again she stayed the course anticipating finding it.

                About fifteen minutes later she came across a small brook.  She looked at it trying to decide if this was her destination or not.  A creek was much larger than this but it had been a long time so it was possible it could have shrunk in size.  However, if this was not the creek, he had spoken of then she would find herself wandering around with no destination.  She looked at the area around her wishing he had been more descriptive in his retelling.  As she stared at the slow-moving trickle something inside her told her this was right.  Trusting her gut, she gauged the sky knowing she had started off later then they would have before.  Once she figured out her direction, she set off again heading deeper into the oak trees around her.  She walked alongside the brook marveling at the sights around her.  She wanted to stop to capture it all but feared it would make her arrival too late.  Hoisting the strap up higher on her shoulders Elizabeth satisfied herself with committing the site to memory.

                She walked on for nearly an hour and stopped once for a quick lunch.  She didn’t dare dawdle on her way not wanting to miss the show.  She knew she could always see it another day of course but something about today made it feel special.  As if in some way William was granting her his birthday gift which was silly but what she felt.  Trudging on through the trees she strode further into the forest.  The longer it was taking to reach however the lower her spirits were getting.  She began to second guess that she had followed the right path and considered turning back.  She nearly did just that.  She was so lost in her thoughts that she screamed out in shock when she walked right into a thick wall of moss.  The green foamy substance hung down from the tallest tree and ended on the ground at her feet.  Reaching out a shaking hand she tore a path through the tangles stumbling out on the other side.

                Her bag dropped to the ground as she took it all in smiling in amazement.  The slight oasis she had uncovered was truly amazing and she did a little dance at having found it.  She carefully made her way across the rocks marveling at the brook that cut through them to the pool of water.  She made her way to the water noting how a curtain of moss surrounded the whole place giving it the feel of some lavish private bath house.  Taking her shoes off Elizabeth crept to the edge noting the crystal-clear water.  This spring wasn’t as deep as the on one Saturday and she could clearly see all the smooth rocks in the bottom.  Draping her legs in slowly she tested the temp finding it tepid but comfortable.  She pushed herself off taking care not to disturb the few lily pads that drifted on the surface.  Her feet moved along the smooth surface of the bottom surprising her to find almost hot to the touch.  The spring must feed up from the ground and not the brook as she had assumed.  The edges of the small pond sprouted cat tails in bundles every so many feet.  The place wasn’t as grandly beautiful as the falls had been and yet it held a unique kind of charm. 

                Giggling like a schoolgirl she waded back to the shore wanting to draw it before she lost the light.  Rushing to her bag she brought it over to the water rubbing herself off with the towel.  She plopped back down on the edge submerging her legs as she rummaged for her things.  With pad in hand and her chalks beside her Elizabeth gently swayed her legs as the colors brought life to her picture.  She sat like that working as time slipped on by, only stopping once the light began dimming out.  Packing her supplies back into her bag she wet the end of her towel to clean the chalk from her hands and forearms.  She would have washed them in the spring, but it felt somewhat sacrilegious to do so.  She took a long pull from the bottle before replacing the cap and with a bag of snacks she settled in for the show. 

                At first, she didn’t notice them as it only started with a few.  As it grew darker more came out into the air until the oasis was a glow in the light of so many fireflies.  Her snacks forgotten she stared slack jawed at the sight as the croaking of toads began to serenade her.  The bugs cavorted through the air weaving and bobbing reflecting off the now black water.  It was like she was sitting among the stars in the sky.  Her only regret was that they didn’t produce enough light to draw by. 

                The slight chill in the air reminded Elizabeth it was getting late and she needed to make her way back to the house.  Reaching into the bag she took out her warmer clothes drying her legs off before she switched out.  A slight smile graced her lips as she stood bare among the blinking lights feeling as if she was some kind of sprite.  The fireflies danced along her skin illuminating its alabaster hue as they moved.  She stood transfixed by the sight as a slight breeze caressed her bare shoulder like a lover.  Shivering she mentally brushed off the thought as she grabbed her clothes and dressed.  She took care to place her wet things inside the sack before adding them to the bag.  She would hate for her picture to get sodden and ruined.  With a final last look and a long cleansing breath she turned back to tear in the moss.  Using her phone as a light she left the hidden haven behind as her heart felt heavy with the loss.

                The trip through the woods seemed to take less time and before she knew it Elizabeth was standing at the willow grove again.  With feet as laden as her heart she moved through the leaves wishing the magic of the night didn’t have to end.  The closer she got to the house the lower her spirits became.  The real world was out there waiting to greet her, but she just couldn’t find the motivation to hasten her steps.  She trudged along parting branches not paying particular attention to her surroundings.  She was daydreaming of her time at the springs until she felt a cold drip hit her forehead.  Stopping Elizabeth reached up to wipe it away looking around her in confusion.  Glancing into the canopy above her another drop hit her cheek and slid down.  The trees appeared to be shedding droplets of rain, but no storm had come that day.  Bewildered and afraid she stumbled from out of the branches watching the water gather on the leaves.  Trembling she tried to tell herself it was the excessive humidity in the air due to all the recent moisture. 

                Backing away from the grove she kept her gaze upon it as if she expected something to come running out at her.  She nearly screamed out in fright as the wind called her name reminding her of the night she had been out in the rain.  It took a second for the sound to pierce the fog of her mind but once it did, she frowned in confusion.  It was no woman calling out to her this time but the voice of a man that she heard and one that she knew.  Turning away from the trees to face her home the shock of what she saw replaced the panic.