One With Nature

Emptiness

It seemed whichever way I walked it was what I’m was met with, nothing but an endless trail of tall trees, mossed covered rocks, and shrubs.

Lost

It crossed my mind, whichever way I went it seemed I still felt lost.

Strange, where was I going?

‘You’re back, little one.’

A soft voice spoke.

Oh I see, the dream. I’m in that dream again. I thought to myself, as I kept walking.

‘Yes, my little one. But our chance to meet is soon approaching.’ The smile was heard in her voice.

I never knew who it was that talked in these dreams, never did I get to see what they looked like. I just heard the voices and what seemed like a blur of them. There was one that was further roaming near the trees and one that hid near the bushes.

It was always two different voices, a soft soothing, warm and welcoming, it always came near the foot of the trees. And a gentle and playful yet nurturing voice was always heard by the bushes.

I don’t quite remember when this dream started, but the only thing that ever changed was what the voices said. It felt real yet not at all. I never had these dreams so frequently, they were always once in a while. I never quite remembered what we talked about in the dreams when I woke up, and the strangest thing was that I did when I had the dream again. The only consistent thing to the dream was always walking through a tree filled forest.

I wonder if she will also be here this time?

‘I am, clever little flower aren’t you?’ The gentle melody of her giggle was heard.

‘This is a bit surprising.’ I responded.

‘I normally don’t have these dreams so frequently. Why now?’

‘As I said before my sweet child, your chance to meet with us, is approaching.’

‘It’ will all make sense little flower, everything

Will

Make

Sense…

“…cia…’’

‘Wait, don’t leave.’

Not yet.

“El..cia..” I felt a light nudge, as the voice tried to rouse me from my dream.

“…Elincia.”

“..hmm” I mumbled, as I finally fully opened my eyes. Turning to the voice who ripped me so rudely from my pleasant slumber.

Turning my head I’m faced with my best friend’s faced invading my vision.

“How dare you?” I playfully said, my voice still laced with sleep, as she giggled.

“C’mon sleepyhead, don’t be so grumpy. You told me to wake you up when we were close.” Lexi said, mirth in her playful voice.

My best friend Alexandra (Lexi) Martinez, has been my best friend since preschool. She has been in my toughest times and greatest moments, one of the two people who can trick me out of my work. In all honesty, I would’ve been lost had it not been for her. I don’t think she will ever realize how much her friendship means to me. She was like a sister to me.

“Eli was asking, if sleeping beauty was awake.” Lexi said as she showed me her phone.

Messages between her and our other best friend, Elijah (Eli) Fontana. Lexi and I met Eli in our first year of high school and we all just clicked. The one who hyped us up when we felt down, he was a great addition to our little duo.

I glanced at her texts until I noticed a picture Lexi had sent him, a picture of me passed out, face against the window of the Jeep.

“WHAT THE HELL???” I yelled in embarrassment, earning a cackle from her.

“You damn heathens.”

“I… H-had to, for…for m-memories.” Lexi said through her laughs.

“I hate you all.” I mumbled, earning another laugh from her and Cat in the passenger seat.

“I tried to stop her. I reeeally did.” Cat said, looking back at us. Fluttering her eyelashes.

“Don’t lie to me Catherine.” I playfully glared at the strawberry blonde, earning another round of giggles.

Our playful banter stopped as we reached the camping grounds, as we finally came to a stop from the long drive. We all got out and stretched feeling the cool mid September breeze. Not long did we see a black Ram truck park next to the grey Jeep we just hopped out of. Cedric who was driving met with Matt the owner of the truck, who had the rest of our group. And no sooner was I engulfed in a bone crushing hug by Eli.

“My sleeping beauty, I heard you finally got some sleep.” He said as I tried to get out of his hold.

“Shut up, you major weirdo. Can’t trust any of you.” I said laughing.

“You know you love me.” Eli said, all smiles.

Our playful banter stopped as we reached the camping grounds, as we finally came to a stop from the long drive. We all got out and stretched feeling the cool mid September breeze. Not long did we see a black Ram truck park next to the grey Jeep we just hopped out of. Cedric who was driving met with Matt the owner of the truck, who had the rest of our group. And no sooner was I engulfed in a bone crushing hug by Eli.

After our small reunion, we all gathered to set up our tents for the night. Our small group was now much bigger since Eli, Lexi and I graduated from high school. Eli had met his boyfriend; Julius, during an internship. Matthew (Matt) was Julius' cousin who coincidentally was in one of Eli’s and my classes in our first term in college. As for Cedric, he was a friend of Matt’s, it seemed the auburn haired guy would drag Cedric along to his shenanigans. Cat was also majoring in the same thing as Lexi so they had a lot of classes together. And from then we formed our own little group.

As we finished setting up we all had enough time to do what we wanted before it got too dark. Lexi and I decided we wanted to walk along the hiking trail nearby. As we went out of our tent to see if anyone else wanted to come along with us we noticed Matt’s truck leaving.

“What happened.” I asked Cedric, who was standing nearby.

“We forgot to get a propane tank, Matt went to gas station few miles down to get one. Cat went with him, guess she needed somethings.” Cedric explained.

“Oh bummer, I think the nearest gas station was like a half hour away?” Lexi said next to me. “And we were thinking of asking if anyone wanted to join our little hike.”

“I have a few things I need to finish setting up, so I’m going to have to pass. The two lovebirds said they wanted to rest before dinner.”

“Did you need any help.” I asked, feeling bad there was more to be done.

I had thought we had finished with everything. I didn’t just want to leave while he did all the work.

“No, you both can go ahead.” He shook his head, assuring us he would be fine.

“Okay, we’ll be heading off then.” Lexi said as she started towards the trail.

“Stay safe.” Cedric waved us off.

“Yeah, we’ll be back to help with dinner prep.” I said as I followed behind Lexi.

As Lexi chatted about how work was going as we walked further away from the campsite.The crunching of fallen leaves on our path were heard with every step Lexi and I took. The pleasant breeze, the scent of pine and clean air, it seemed there was a creek nearby. The beautiful scenery brought me peace, and made my worries wash away. It was a much needed break. Though some part in my mind it felt like déjà vu, the view of the tall trees and shrubs nearby.

‘Guess all forests look so similar?’

“Sooo…” Lexi broke me out of my thoughts.

“Sooo?” I teased back.

“You can tell me how amazing I am now. I managed to get you, our little workaholic out for a whole weekend.” Lexi smiled brightly as she swung her arm around my form.

“ I guess, but you weren’t the one who drove two plus hours- OW!” I rubbed my arm she pinched.

“Alright smartypants, but it took me so long to finally make you agree to come. I even had Ms. Grace run the coffee shop for the weekend.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.” I said in sarcasm, playfully rolling my eyes. “She took my set of keys to the coffe shop, threatened to take it back if I didn’t come.”

Lexi laughed as I retold the whole experience with the kind woman that was like an aunt to me, fiddling with the pendant around my neck.

~~~

When Lexi and I were around 10 years old I remembered we had gone with Lexi’s older sister who was raving about a place she had found that had ‘the best pastries’. It had been a new coffee shop; ‘Mystic Brew’. It was the first time we met with the most caring aunt figure; Grace Summers, who was the owner of the shop. She was around her mid twenties, and I fondly remember our first meeting from time to time.

Lexi’s older sister; Sierra had been eager to talk about how a friend had said Grace did Tarot readings in her coffee shop at times. Grace had done Sierra’s reading and after she gave us all each a piece of jewelry, ‘for protection’ she had said. From then when Lexi and I had been in middle school we would go to Mystic Brew when we didn’t want to go home or had to do homework.

At the age of 15 I was looking for a part-time job. Grace had overheard my plan to look for a job and had kindly offered me a position. I had been so surprised, but I had loved the idea of going in and being greeted with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the sweet wafts of freshly baked pastries. It had been an amazing experience and Grace had been the best boss.

However after about three years of working under Grace due to some unexpected turn of events, she had to close down. I begged her to help me start a new coffee shop in another city an hour away from where she had the coffee shop, under a new name. Luckily she agreed to, now at the age of 24 I am currently the owner of ‘Cup Of Express-O’, it’s a coffee shop where we hold art shows during the week, from up and coming artists for the locals. The walls are filled with paintings and photographs available to sell to any who may be interested in supporting the artists.

~~

Grace had been the best support, I had to thank her for her kind words and encouragement. She was an absolute joy, but she scared the hell out of me when she got mad.

I shivered at the memory as I finished my story, while my so-called best friend laughed like a crazy person.

“I love Grace, she’s the best.” Lexi said as she dried a tear from her eye. “You’ll thank me though, a weekend in nature and surrounded by your favorite people. For the memories!”

She yelled her last statement gleefully, a smiled formed on my face at her silly antics. The reason for not wanting to come, was mostly because I felt I would be the odd one out of the group. A majority of reason why I didn’t leave the coffee shop was because I like to dive into work and not think about my problems. The coffee shop, though a business I had wanted for some time, was a nice distraction from the emptiness I often felt, I feared that if I kept mentioning my problems, I would lose my friends. Somehow, somehow Lexi knew just when I felt at my lowest. She always show up and took me out to go shopping, ask to have lunch or show up at my house for a girls night in. In the back of my mind the nagging voice constantly told me how much she would get sick and tired of me. One day, one day she will leave me and I didn’t know if I could handle it.

‘After all it had happened once—‘

“Ow.” I yelped in surprise as I rubbed my forehead, Lexi’s hand raised evidence at how she just flicked me.

“Watch your step space cadet.” Lexi said with a smirk on her face.

“Which way should we go?” She asked seeing fork on the trail.

“Hmm, I kind of want to go towards the creek.”

“Ooh nice. Maybe there’s a lake nearby. If we find one we’re so going swimming tomorrow. If we can’t find it, we’ll ask Cedric if there is one.”

“Oh yeah, he’s the one that recommended this place.” I thought aloud.

“Yeah, lucky for us it’s not a crowded campsite. Oh maybe if go up the stream do you think there’s a waterfall? I’ve never seen an actual one maybe we’ll get lucky…”

Lexi rambled on with a smile as she listed other options if her swimming in the lake didn’t pan out.

Maybe Lexi was right, maybe this was just what I needed. Regardless I wouldn’t let myself ruin it for them, I’ll put my overwhelming thoughts on lock and try to live in the moment.

It had never occurred to us that going into the forest would change our lives as we had known it.