When They Came

I witness the beauty of tall, firm oaks breathing. The wind cools my face as it blows through the deep green trees. As I twirl, I take in the thriving life around me, with the sound of squirrels scurrying, bugs humming, and deer dashing on brittle leaves. An opening appears to the beautiful, clear blue cascade that rolls down towards the chirping birds in need of sustenance. The heart of the ever-loud forest pulsates.

Outside, I see their uncaring eyes, which only see an unproductive space. Their subconscious whispers that they could build a house of mediocrity where this green mess is.

Memories of enchanted places always flood back to me without warning. I remember being around sixty foot giants with vines slithering and dense plant life pushed up against one another. So much sweat would run down me in the humid weather. When I trekked, sloths were graceful creatures high above me. Gorillas would swing with their young swiftly across the forest, creaking the branches as they dangled. Lemurs would glare with interested eyes before sneaking off again. This woven web of interconnected lives produced a flourishing outcome of balance.

I remember them being there too. I saw their grins broaden as they observed all the money that was just sitting there, ready for the taking. No one to defend it. The manifestation of dollar signs sparked a forever-burning fire within them, as well as everything around them.

Memories of glistening sand under the sun came back to me. It would softly run through my hands. The sun always made me feel safer as it shone. It watched over everything in this magical lagoon. Colourful coral was plentiful throughout the water and was home to earth’s energetic friends that swam wherever they pleased in the blue, luminous sea.

I remember them emerging from the shadows. Upon seeing it, they almost cried tears of joy. It was a beautiful infinite garbage dump that was just right.

When they came, earth’s friends over millenniums vanished.