April 8, 2023

A phone, camera & backpack were all I left home with. I put my left foot forward while my right foot followed after; my shoes left a trail of footprints behind me.

“Erik! Look at how the trees are moving! it’s like they’re talking!” I’m pretty sure those were the words that started it all. I rushed to open my backpack and pull out my camera. My adrenaline caused my hands to shake before I let out one deep breath and clicked to capture the moment twice.

The photos developed, and I could only make a “stank face” at the product. Erik was lost in his own thoughts. As for me, the way the sunlight peeked through the trees, the way the leaves were a bright green, and the way the forest lured me in was like a warm hug. That feeling is what hooked me.

We continued our meandering conversation as we made a right turn, followed by a left. I couldn’t help but reminisce about how the trees spoke to me, as they had each time I walked through the forest. I must have checked my camera about 99 times on our journey just to make sure the photos were still there.

On the 100th time, I looked up and realized it was getting late and the sky was dark. My phone buzzed with a call from my mother. She told me it was time for dinner, and I could “smell” the lasagna through the phone.