The Song of the Forest
The Song of the Forest : Ellie had always felt a deep connection to the forest. Since childhood, its towering trees and the soft, mossy ground had been her sanctuary. There was something about the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor, that made the rest of the world feel far away. Today, she had come to the woods alone, seeking the kind of peace only nature could provide.
She followed the winding path deeper into the forest, the sounds of the world outside gradually fading. All that was left was the steady rustling of leaves and the soft chirping of birds. It was as if the forest itself was alive, singing a quiet song that only those who truly listened could hear. Ellie had always been a good listener.
The farther she walked, the more the forest seemed to envelop her. The trees grew taller and thicker, their bark rough and ancient beneath her fingertips. The air was cool and fragrant with the scent of pine and damp earth. As she stepped off the path and wandered into the thick underbrush, she marveled at how untouched everything seemed, as though this part of the world had existed for centuries without ever knowing the presence of man.
Ellie crouched by a small stream, watching as the water gurgled over smooth stones. The sound was rhythmic and soothing, like the heartbeat of the earth itself. She dipped her fingers into the cold water, feeling its chill rush through her. It was a reminder of the natural world’s quiet power, how it could be both gentle and fierce.
Suddenly, she heard a faint rustle behind her. Slowly, she turned, half-expecting to see nothing but swaying branches. But there, standing between the trees, was a deer. It was a young doe, its coat a soft shade of brown that blended seamlessly with the forest around it. Its large, dark eyes watched her with curiosity, but it didn’t move. Neither did Ellie.
It felt as though time had stopped for a minute.The gentle sounds of the forest’s leaves moving in the breeze were the only sounds and movements. Ellie felt an unspoken kinship and a mutual understanding as the deer and she stared at one other. Neither the deer nor her were terrified of each other. All they were was a pair of creatures occupying the same place, each a part of something greater and more ancient than they could have ever imagined.
After a few seconds, the deer turned and walked away, disappearing into the thick foliage as silently as it had come. Ellie remained still, her heart filled with a quiet awe. She stayed by the stream for a long time after that, listening to the gentle music of the forest and watching the sunlight shift through the trees.
When she finally rose to leave, she felt different—calmer, more grounded. The world outside the forest was still waiting for her, but now she carried with her a piece of the forest’s peace, a reminder that there was a place where time moved slower, where life continued in its ancient rhythms, untouched by the rush and noise of modern life.
And she knew she would return to that place, again and again, to listen to the song of the forest.