EVANORA

A mile into the forest following the path that was illuminated for Evanora by the trees an owl hooted her arrival into a clearing and she stopped walking and took in the smells and serenity the lay before her. The area in which she had stopped looked like it had been used as a camping ground many years ago and was now tragically over grown with vines and flowers of all shapes and colours tangled and gnarled together in a tapestry of colour and aroma. An old disused fire pitt in the centre of the clearing looked like it had not been used for a very long time and had ash and the skeletal remains of small animals most likely rabbits or turkeys caught and cooked over the flames of the pitt and this was the only thing in the clearing that caused Evanora concern. She saw what her father did to animals with his gun and then how he ate them and left the remains for her to clean up. But...he wasn’t with her right now and all of this exploring was new to her and a degree of empowerment now surged through her veins. With the greatest care taken she dug a small hole and placed the animals remains in it then refilled the hole and then looked for a pine cone on the forest floor.

There were plenty to pick from so once she found the right one she shook it and the seeds that form the trees that surrounded her fell into her hand. She placed one seed into the top soil that now covered the animals bones and pushed it into the soft rich soil. Then she placed both her hands on the mound and closed her eyes to say a prayer for them animals beneath.

Evanora opened her eyes with a start. The seed was growing right before her eyes. One single green shoot meandered its way skyward and had tickled the palms of her hands as if trying to reach for the sun faster than any plant she had ever seen grow before. Evanora looked around and her eyes searched to see if there was some one playing a trick on her...this was like magic. The air was very still and silent around her and the trees stood very rigid and still as if they were watching her and helping the plant along with their love.

“Is any body there?” asked Evanora cautiously in a calm collected voice but there was no response.

“I’m not afraid of whoever you are and I know that something is here because I can feel it and now I can see it...” and she turned her gaze to the new seed she had planted which was already as high as her knee and still moving upward at an alarming rate. She began to walk around the clearing looking here and there at the foliage that was on the forest floor. She wondered what it would be like to feel this on her feet so she took her shoes and socks off and placed them neatly next to the the small tree that had now grown as tall as her hips.

Instantly she could feel the pine needles beneath her feet and she settled even more. The forest was vibrating very quietly and she was now part of this vibration. Evanora was smiling at how beautiful this whole area was around her. It was as if she was now a conduit to it all and tapped in to a very special sacred energy. She looked back at her seed and now the tree was as tall as she was.

“Come on...I know you are there....show yourself” she said in a playful voice laced with curiosity and then she stood very still to see if she could hear a response.

Nothing.

No sound at all.

And so she set off again to walk around the clearing admiring the flowers and smelling them between her fingers casting back furtive glances at her seed tree that was now twice her size and in the process of flowering years ahead of its time.

“You are very powerful...I can see that” and she smiled at the seed tree she had planted not 5 minutes earlier and the tip curled over and touched the top of Evanora’s head gently and goosebumps broke out on her skin instantly. This tree was alive but not like normal trees it was almost human in its kind and caring nature. Something her father wasn’t. Images and feelings of her father swooped down and took away the beauty she was feeling and now with tears in her eyes she looked at her seed tree and said in a broken shaky voice...

“Is that you mum....are you here with me now?” to the seed tree and all the flowers that were tiny buds in a state of readiness to open...bloomed before her eyes creating a display of beauty the likes of which Evanora has never seen before. Her mouth opened in complete and utter amazement at the wonders that this seed tree was now showing her. Flowers of all colours and shapes now stretched their petals in front of Evanora and she bowed her head and put her hands to her face to hide the tears and sobbing that came from deep within her mind and body. Her tears fell at her feet and the ground started to vibrate.

Evanora looked up and around the clearing, what was happening underneath her was it an earthquake?

Fear gripped her for the first time since arriving in the forest and the clearing.

The seed tree bent its uppermost branch and touched her head again and Evanora looked back at the tree and she settled. She was going to run because she was scared that the ground would open up and swallow her whole in one mighty gulp. But this was not to be for beneath her feet and breaking their way to the surface of the forest floor were gnarled and writhing tree roots all clambering and twisting themselves into a shape before her very eyes. Evanora looked from the roots to the seed tree and back and let her fear go. These trees, no, this forest would never hurt her like her father did they just wanted to help her.

Slowly the tree roots took shape and form. The trees surrounding her in the clearing all quivered and shook at the same time creating a snow storm of pine needles that blanketed the ground around her.

Evanora looked at the seed tree and could see that it was still growing at an alarming rate and the roots underneath her feet were finally taking shape.

The ground stopped moving.

The seed tree curled its branches around Evanora and lifted her off the ground with as much care as a mother would give to a new born baby. Then gently set her down into the tree roots finished sculpture.

It was her mothers hand made by the trees in the forest.

Evanora reached out and gently touched the fingers that were cupped holding her and her heart was filled with so much love and joy she cried openly and didn’t hold anything back. The gentle touch was replaced by Evanoras open arms hugging the fingers and hand whilst calling out to her mother....

“Mum..mum..mum...I have missed you..I’m so glad you are here..dad has been doing terrible things to me” and at this utterance the fingers of her mothers hand curled around Evanora as if to protect her and give her comfort.

Evanora stopped crying and rested her head against the huge fingers that held her so gently. She looked towards the seed tree and now the flowers on its branches were changing colour all by the themselves. It reminded her of christmas tree lights from years ago when her mother was alive. It was very comforting and she could feel sleep coming to her body. She didn’t want to go home, she didn’t want to ever go home again, but she knew she must or or father would turn her world into more of a living hell than it was already. She closed her eyes and held her mothers fingers. She slept and a myriad of colours and dreams filled her head while she slept. The forest around this sacred union of mother and daughter bowed their branches towards them both in respect.

They were together again.

A hand covered in oil and grease lifted up Evanora’s school bag and examined the contents within then threw it against the front door with such force it split the seams and her lunch box, homework and pencil case scattered all over the floor.

“EVANORA...WHERE ARE YOU ?!?” screamed her father as he staggered back into their home and set about trying to find her...with no success making him angrier with every second that ticked by because she was nowhere to be found.