The Oak Tree

Nolan ran. 

He knew he couldn’t miss what was about to unfold. 

He hurried along the path, closely missing a mud-filled puddle and a tree branch that had fallen across the dirt track. 

He looked ahead and saw the large oak tree planted on top of the hill. 

The sky was deep blue, with a few rolling clouds and a breeze softly blowing through the trees. 

Another step meant another second closer. 

A smile stretched across his face while his backpack bounced around on his back as he ran toward the hill. 

The sun glistened through the waving leaves of the trees, shining down almost as if lighting up the dirt path as he ran. 

In the distance he could hear the bells ring. It was music to his ears, as each ring filled him with a joy that he couldn’t describe. 

The path began to wind down towards the river, slowly hiding the hilltop ahead behind the towering trees on either side. 

The sunlight faded away, as the forest began to become dark. 

Nolan reached the edge of the water and stopped for a short moment to catch his breath. 

He placed his hands on his knees as he crouched forward, taking deep breaths and trying to focus on what was ahead. 

Then, out of the water came a loud splash. 

He fell backwards, landing on the dirt path with his backpack sandwiched between him and the path.  

He looked around while still lying on the ground, brushing the dirt off his shorts. 

He couldn’t see it. But he could hear it. 

The bells stopped ringing. 

He knew what it was. He’d never actually seen it, but he knew it was always watching – always ready to attack at any moment. 

He cautiously stood up, brushing the remaining dirt off his clothes. 

The river began to ripple in the centre as the rest of the water flowed by. Then it stopped. No ripples, just the river flowing normally. 

Without warning, the water erupted with a mighty splash. 

Nolan turned, ran, and didn’t look back. 

With each step he took, the sunlight slowly returned to the path as the towering trees disappeared behind him.  

He could hear the bells again, ringing in the distance – a beautiful melody that continued to bring him joy. 

Then, just as he thought he was far enough away from the river, he ran into a clearing in the forest. A large open space filled with lush grass and the winding path splitting like a fork. On one side, the path disappeared into the forest, and on the other –  it continued directly toward the hilltop. 

Nolan stopped and gazed at the grass. It was as green as green could be. It was tempting to touch, but he knew he couldn’t. It didn’t belong to him. Or, at least, that’s what he had been told. 

The bells stopped again, just as the luscious green grass slowly began to light up with fireflies appearing from within the grass itself. 

Each one carried a glowing light that was mesmerizing to watch, as thousands of them drifted up into the open clearing. He stood there, eyes wide open as a smile formed across his face.  

He took a step forward, unknowingly standing on the grass.  

Suddenly, yet slowly, each firefly directed its focus on Nolan. 

Nolan, now quite aware of what was happening, looked down at his feet. He was standing on the grass – and the fireflies knew it.  

He quickly stepped back onto the path and began to laugh, as thousands of now angry fireflies danced through the air chasing after him. 

The bells began to ring again as Nolan laughed while he ran, his backpack jumping with each step he took. 

The clearing disappeared behind him as the fireflies gave up chase and retreated back to their home in the grass. 

Then, he saw the oak tree again.  

It was magnificent. Its large trunk stretched into the sky, with its shade hovering above the top of the hill it called home. 

The hill overlooked the city in the distance, with its rolling edges flowing into the neighbourhood below. 

Nolan slowed his steps, finally sighing a sigh of relief as he made it to the top. 

He stopped for a moment and took it all in.  

The wind was still blowing a soft breeze through the oak tree’s branches, almost flickering the leaves in an unorganised fashion. 

He placed his backpack on the ground and unzipped it. 

First came out the picnic rug, then a bottle of water, followed by a cake that had seen better days — and finally, the present, wrapped with a large red bow. 

Nolan placed everything down and rolled out the rug. He placed the flattened cake in the centre and sat down. 

"Well, you knew I'd make it," Nolan began. "Even if those darn fireflies chased me this time!" 

His friend smiled. 

"And that water monster. It always knows when I'm near the river. What do you think it looks like?" 

His friend shrugged his shoulders. 

"I'm surprised you haven't come face to face with the ogre in the forest. He's also always watching..." his friend replied, smiling as he looked at Nolan.  

Nolan's eyes opened a little wider. 

"I'd rather not..." 

The bells rang louder now as a gust of wind swept through the oak tree. The branches swayed above them, sending hundreds of leaves dancing through the air. 

Their sound was music to Nolan's ears. 

He smiled at his friend. 

Together, they watched the sun disappear behind the city. 

The cake was eventually eaten. The present was opened. The stories continued until there was nothing left to say. 

When the sun had finally disappeared, Nolan packed everything away. He folded the picnic rug, placed the empty bottle into his backpack and carefully put the red bow inside. 

He stood and looked at the space beside him. 

"Same time next year?" 

The wind answered with another gentle chime from the bells. 

Nolan smiled. 

Then he turned towards the forest and began the walk home. 

He was alone. 

Nolan had never met his friend. He had no phone to call him, no message waiting for him and no photograph to prove he had ever existed.  

But after the smartphones stopped working, Nolan had discovered something far more important — he could still create a world of his own.