Short Story for Paper Doll Gang

used a prompt picture of forest with butterflies.

** Image ID #1610216 Unavailable **

Retreating to the woods was always something that had calmed her soul, soothed her emotions. She parked her car at the edge of the woods and ran full force into the forest until she was out of breath. Gazing up at the canopy of trees with the sun filtering through what was left of the fall foliage, the air above her shimmered and glittered in it's own mysterious and magical way.

Sitting down hard in a pile of leaves, she started to cry. Sobs echoed as a constant wailing continued to build tempo; body shaking now as pent up emotions were released. Rolling onto her back she gazed, blurry eyed, at the beautiful scenery. Her worries and sadness seem to ebb away as she watched the slowly falling leaves and listened to the woodland birds chirp their happy song. Suddenly a flurry of butterflies flew by, one stopping to land on her nose. She giggled and it moved off to join the others.

Sitting up and wiping her tears, she realized this was what it was all about-- Simple beauty, a natural existence. She went home, gathered her few personal belongings, stopped at the local Target to buy a tent, and returned to live her remaining years in the forest.

She has been seen from time to time, only in the shadows. You get a glimpse of a wild haired beauty who seems to be surrounded by butterflies. Blink twice and she is gone but her giggles can be heard long after she has disappeared.


Note: I got funny at the end. Sorry, couldn't help it. There were a lot of ways this story could have turned out. I chose to end it on a different note from what I would normally do. Perhaps if she would have went to Walmart, she could have saved on that tent!