The Park.

(This was typed up so suddenly. I did not want to lose it so revision is needed.)

Near the end of my day my anxious feet brought me to the entrance of a park. The wrought iron gates protecting the beauty within grabbed hold of me. The intricate craftsman involved, hand-made, as black as obsidian. My hand leaped forward on it's own and parted the gate. It was cold beneath my fingers but remained as beautiful as ever in my eyes.

I started on the path as curiosity fueled me. Vast expanses of bright, green grass surrounded me with wildflowers sprouting in sporadic locations, as wildflowers often do. Neatly trimmed shrubs lined the path guiding me along my path. The sky remained it's beautiful bright blue as the sun warmed my exposed body. Oh, glorious day stay with me! You've kissed me body and soul.

With my arms spread, hands reaching towards the sun I hear a fit of laughter pass me by. Perplexed at the sudden interruption I look down to and see a little girl wearing a red parka. She's dancing in the path ahead of me, with beautiful, thin arms stretched above her fingers clasped together like a perfect ballerina. Intrigued I take a step towards her. She stops mid twirl and plants her right foot firmly with her left on the ground, and looks at me. Blazing green eyes stab mine and I'm forced to catch my breath. She smiles and proceeds down a cross path to mine.

Wanting to see if she's real I follow her. My heart pounds with excitement and my eyes burn from that beautiful stare. I come to the intersection and turn down her path. Suddenly I notice how empty the park has become. No sound. No movement. Suspiciously, I'm all alone with this girl galloping ahead of me. She looks back enticing the chase.

My pace becomes more than a walk and something gold catches my eye. On the ground is a plain, gold ring. I pick it up and instantly my hand warms to it's touch, as if it belonged to me. The girl must have dropped it. I pocket the ring hoping to return it to it's owner as soon as I catch up to her.

Out of nowhere the sky seems to darken a shade and the sun's warmth leaves me. I continue on the path with the red girl in view. Even from afar she looks beautiful! Again, something catches my eye on the path and it's a white silk ribbon, creased from folds like a bow. A spasm of worry is born in my chest but ignored as my hand reaches for the ribbon. It's so soft in my hand like liquid silk if such a thing existed.

Clouds begin to roll in and the sun whines and protests, trying it's best to keep shining. I pocket the ribbon and continue following the girl. My feet falter and come to a stop when I see the red parka in front of me on the path where it clearly does not belong! A torrent of fear runs through me as I reach for the petite parka. The clouds win the battle and the sun is lost. Darkness swims from every angle and collides with the light. As my eyes adjust to the sudden and instant darkness I spot a man ahead of me. He's dressed in black with a heavy trench coat. His face is hidden with a cloud of smoke swirling up from his pipe. He catches my stare and starts to laugh a menacing sound that makes my stomach sick.

I look down at the red parka and my thoughts become a mess. Where is she? I look up towards the man and see a pile of bones beneath his feet. Elegant, shimmering white, beautiful and petite. Complete and utter fright engulf my senses and I turn around and start to run. Running as fast as I can back where I came from. Every sense and instinct telling me to hurry, to run, don't look back. I drop the parka and and the ribbon on the ground, while running on the path towards home. The sun starts to reclaim it's position and brightens a little. The path ahead of me grows clear. I come to the intersecting paths and grab the ring out of my pocket. In my hand it looks ugly, deceitful and old. I throw it behind me and continue to run toward the entrance. The sun, again, shins brightly on my body and I pause in the park path to look up.

My arms stretched out and my hands reaching toward to sun, I'm back to where I started. Oh, glorious day never leave me again! Motion starts again and I hear the rustling of the park. The trees sway again and the birds sing their sweet tones of poetic beauty. I hear a fit of laughter pass me by and I freeze. Unable to look down, knowing what I'd find, I turn around and start walking towards that beautiful fence. The fence that provoked my trespassing. I push the gate open ignoring the cold sting on my hand and I begin to run home.

Home. I'll never look back. I'll never return to this place again.