Forest of the Spirits.

She was never really normal.

I knew from the moment I saw her, walking towards me through the forest. I was panting, frantically trying to find my way home. I was only a child, and was scared I was lost, but my breath calmed when I saw her.

Her bare feet were smooth and soft, and she was skinny as sin. Her brown eyes were like an abyss, and if I looked too long I feared I’d fall in. Her short, simple white dress came to just above her knees, tattered at the edges. Her long blonde hair blew in the wind, dry despite the pouring rain. The same with her dress, and porcelain skin. As if the rain dare not touch her.

She smiled at me. “Good evening,” she said.

I took a few deep breaths. “Hey,” I replied.

“Why are you running?” she asked.

I choked, “I’m lost.” I said.

“This isn’t a very good place to get lost in,” she related, “full of spirits, I hear.”

My eyes widened. “Really? I’d like to see one!” I said, my fear forgotten.

She chuckled and shook her head. “No, I don’t think you do. Would you like me to lead you out? I know the way.”

Joy filled my heart, and I raced forward to give her a hug. “Thank you!” I cried.

She sidestepped quickly, causing me to bump into a tree. I looked at her, confused.

“You can’t touch me, I’ll vanish.”

I tilted my head. “What?”

“My body is fragile, a human can’t touch it.”

“Oh.” I said, my face downcast.

She pursed her lips and glanced around, finally her eyes alighted on a stick. She picked it up, extending the other hand to me. “Here, hold the other end, but be very careful not to touch me,” she warned.

She didn’t have to tell me twice though, I wouldn’t ever try to hurt her, and I took the utmost care not to.

We soon found a dirt path, and after several minutes more we reached the edge of the forest. As I let go of the stick, she called for me to wait.

“Don’t come here again, if you get lost you’ll never get out,” she warned.

I laughed. “It’ll be alright, you’ll lead me out!” Before she could say more, I ran off, already formulating plans to return the next day.

And return I did. The weekend had finally arrived, so I raced there the moment the sun rose. She was at the entrance I’d left her at, staring vacantly at the stick.

“Goodmorning!” I called, running up to her and grinning widely.

“Oh, hey.” She replied, dropping the stick. “I told you not to come back.”

“You were waiting for me,” I said.

“But…”

“Come on.” I said, picking up the stick. “Let’s go exploring.”

Her face faded into a gentle smile, and she took hold of the other end of the stick. “Okay,” she said.

We entered the forest, and wandered around, not a care in the world. She looked to be about sixteen, and seemed like an older sister to my eight-year-old self. And I treated her as such. We raced through the forest and played hide and seek. The large creek, running through the center of the woods, was fun to cross, the both of us laughing warmly.

All too soon, the day ended, and she led me to the edge of the forest.

“What’s your name?” She asked as I started to run off.

I paused. “Everett, what’s yours?” I asked.

She looked into the distance for a moment, considering. “Susan. That’s what they call me at least.” She said.

That entire spring passed in such a fashion. Then we spent the summer laying in the meadow and swimming in the dark side of the creek, and then fall dancing in the leaves. As winter rolled around, a temporary goodbye was struck between us.

“It’ll be too cold.” I lamented, frowning as I swung my bag onto my back. “And with the snow, I won’t be coming at all until summer I think.”

Susan looked down, saddened, but perked up quickly. “That’s alright, come back soon. If you want to, I mean.”

“I will!”

The whole winter, I couldn’t stop thinking about Susan, my first and only friend. But as spring came closer, my parents decided to move away without my consent.

I was horrified, and, despite the two feet of snow, I wrapped myself up and trudged to the forest.

I arrived wet and cold over an hour later. Susan was sitting on the ground, sleeping.

“Susan!” I called.

She awoke, sitting up and turning towards me. “Everett.” She said, standing up. “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of winter.”

I tried desperately not to, but I began to cry, the very thought of leaving to painful to bear. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry Susan, but I can’t come back.” I lamented.

She stared at me, processing these words. “Why?” she whispered.

I searched her face, trying to find words to describe how I was feeling. “I’m moving away, because of my family, it’s too far away…”

“I understand,” Susan interrupted.

I stopped sobbing. “What?”

“I understand, it’s alright. I’ll be fine.” She said, smiling so brightly I feel the snow started to melt.

“You’re lying.” I said, backing away.

“No, everyone leaves, no exception.”

“But…”

“Goodbye.” She turned her back as her voice broke.

I turned as well, walking home, sad and confused.

Years past, and even though at first I thought about Susan with an unhealthy obsession, she soon became a thought for rainy days and weekends. By the time I was fifteen, I was certain she’d been my imagination, and imaginary friend to play with me as a child.

But the forest stuck in my mind, and one summer day I decided to go back.

The train ride was long, over four hours, and I arrived in my hometown half past one.

I walked to the forest, taking in the summer breeze and the eerie silence of the small town.

As I neared the tree line, I couldn’t believe my eyes, standing at the entrance of the old dirt path, was a girl with long blonde hair, brown eyes, and a short white dress. She was watching a butterfly flutter by, her hands clasped behind her back. I shouted her name and began to run.

She looked at me and her expression became confused. She didn’t look a day older, even though I’d grown.

I got to her and looked into her eyes, then her expression suddenly changed. “Everett.” She whispered, her eyes wide with shock. I smiled.

“Yeah, yeah it’s me!” I laughed. “I didn’t- I thought-”

“You came back.” She said, a weak smile playing at her lips. She turned a stick over in her hands, it was old and starting to rot. When I saw my eyes widened.

“Is that?” I asked, pointing. She looked at it and nodded.

She held it out to me. “Just like old times?” She asked. I nodded and accepted the other end, then I let out a burst of speed, dragging her into the forest. After letting out a cry she began to laugh heartily.

Soon we found ourselves sitting in a clearing, and I finally found the courage to ask some questions I felt needed answered.

“Susan, would you really disappear if I touched you?”

Silence hung between us for almost a minute, then Susan spoke up. “Yes.”

I nodded slowly. “I was just…”

“It’s fine.” She looked up into the trees. “I suppose you have lots of questions.”

“Yeah…”

“Ask away.”

“Would I’ve really been lost in the forest forever without you?”

She chuckled. “Most likely, but some kids make it out.”

“Why would you disappear?”

“A curse.”

“From who?”

“The tree spirits. They saved me as a child, but went overboard. I’ll live forever, and won’t get lost here in the forest again, but…” She pursed her lips. “My body is fragile, they call me a flower, sometimes, because I’m so fragile.”

“Oh.”

“Is that all?”

“Mmhmm.” It really wasn’t, but I figured that was enough for now.

We visited my favorite places that day, the creek, the hollow tree, the meadow, and, finally, the old fort of sticks we’d made in the fall.

“It’s getting late, let’s go back.” Juniper said finally as the sun started to set. I stood up, following her from the forest.

As I turned to bid her farewell, she spoke up. “Will you come back?”

I looked at her, sadness filling my heart. “I don’t know.” I felt a tugging in my stomach, this wasn’t sadness, what was this feeling?

“Please.” She said, her eyes relaxed and sad. This was the first time I realized that she was looking up at me now, not me up at her.

I looked past her at the forest, considering my options, a warm breeze gave me an idea. “You know what? Tonight, I’ll stay in the forest with you. It’s warm enough.” I smiled, the idea making me grin.

She smiled brightly. “Thank you!” Was all she said as she turned, racing into the forest. I ran after her, darkness settling over the forest as the sun set.

We were almost to the creek, when crying hit our ears, mixed with splashing and choking. Someone was drowning in the deep end of the creek. Susans smile vanished as she picked up speed, racing for the noise.

“Susan!” I called after her, picking up speed but falling behind all the same. I ran as fast as I could, arriving just in time to see her leaving the water with a small limp body in her hands. I felt a pang in my stomach, it was only a child. A small girl, around eight years old. Shock coursed through my body as I realized Susans fingertips were glowing. I ran forward.

“A human! You… you’re…” I stammered, trying to wrap my brain around the situation

“Shh, it’s okay.” She said, tears came to her eyes. “I saved her.”I looked at the child, and my eyes began to tear up as I realized the severity of the situation.

“You’ll disappear,” I whispered.

She nodded and smiled. After lowering the child to the ground, she threw her arms open. I rushed forward suddenly, hugging her with all my strength. “You know,” she whispered, “seven years ago, if you’d’ve been drowning, I don’t think I’d’ve saved you.”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“Thank you, you helped me realize… realize that one lifetime could mean more than forever if I end it well.” I felt her tears on my neck, and hundreds of emotions flooded my senses. I wanted to tell her everything, but could only manage one. “Why today?” I sobbed, my voice breaking.

“Because today was the day I fell in love,” she replied. “So, from that moment, it was only a matter of time.”

With these words, she burst into starlight, and in that moment, I found the word for what I’d been feeling.

I gulped and looked around, pain and anger rose in the back of my throat and I let out a yell. Screaming and crying towards the heavens. I shrunk to the ground, taking everything in and letting it all out for what felt like hours. My sobbing only ended when the young girl came to.

She looked around, her eyes finally meeting mine. “Thank you.” She squeaked, and if before I’d blamed her in the least, it all vanished in that second. The girl tilted her head. “Why are you crying?” she asked.

I let out a laugh and wiped the tears from my eyes. I looked at her, trying to form words to describe my reasoning. “I lost something, and I fear I won’t ever find it again,” I related.

The girl nodded and glanced down, understanding clouded her face. She looked up at me and smiled after a moments thought. “What was it?” she asked.

“Someone special.”

“Oh,” she frowned, deep in thought. “Well, you know, if they were really special, they’ll never really leave you.”

“You think so?” I asked, a smiled spreading on my face.

She nodded. “Yeah, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll find them again.”

“I suppose you’re right,” I said. And, I think she was right, because as we left the forest, I never guessed my way. I felt something guiding my steps. And as I emerged from the woods, I caught my breath.

The entire meadow had exploded into a field of Black Eyed Susans. Hundreds adorning the meadow as far as the eye could see. The girl turned to me and smiled, her eyes aglow. “Those weren’t there this morning.” She said, in shock.

I nodded and let out a pent in breath. “Yeah.”