Sunbeams through the trees

Walking through the woods near me - a military training ground strangely open to the public - there are many paths that take you between densely grown pine trees. It is always quiet. That silence is why I return, the peacefulness, the lack of any other people, no bumping into someone you might know. The woods feel special in a way, like they belong just to me, sometimes even magical.

When the sun is shining, with no clouds in the sky, the beams of light that dance through the pine trees are a sight to behold. I often find myself standing in one of the beams, soaking up the summer sun whilst being surrounded by the smell of pine. The rough bark on the trees is comforting to the touch as I rest up against one, pausing to just take it all in. I sometimes encounter deer in the forest, normally in groups of two or three, but sometimes there is one going solo like myself, and they often stop a while longer, holding my gaze, before quickly running away into the thick bush.

Truly no better feeling than the sun bursting through from behind a cloud and soaking you in heat and good vibes, lifting away any darkness you might have been holding on to. The sunbeams through the trees however, is a much more enchanted experience, natures light show, an ever changing dance of white light cutting across the forest floor.

Whilst this might sound childish, I often secretly hope to catch a glimpse of some sort of creature from a fairy tale book in these woods, there are days where it wouldn’t surprise me if I did. What would I do, what would I say, how would the creature react. Perhaps one day I will find out, and perhaps one day I will write an essay titled ‘Fairytales through the trees’.