Motivation logo

A Secret Within The Scenery

A tale of “Death Valley”.

By Leigh HooperPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
2

As I sit at my window the Earth holds its breath. At times, everything is perfectly still, and even the leaves freeze in place. This has been my home for many years, and the view is locked in a permanent setting.

Like a painting, this scenery has the destiny to never change. It’s beauty will be frozen in place forever. Yet, as beautiful as this scenery may look, there is a dark secret hidden here.

It is hidden by the beauty of nature that sits all around me. Green and yellow hills roll like a wave, and encase my “chocolate box” village in a valley of flora and fauna. Tall trees of Oak, Fir and Ash stand to attention in the near by forest, some of which have seen the tales of this secret for over a hundred years. Home to some of the most beautiful Roman and Iron Age archeological sites I’ve ever seen, this forest is the arteries of this landscape, stretching out to all the surrounding villages.

Below sits the River Wylye, a gorgeous river that moves gracefully, stretching out for miles. The blue waters shine in the sun, having travelled far just so I could bare witness of it’s beauty. It is the heart of the village, constantly beating.

It is a reflection of life itself, how it constantly moves without exception. It is a powerful reminder of such things, sat at my very own doorstep.

The houses here huddle together, my house being one of six that used to be home to beautiful verandahs. Here the neighbourhood is friendly and the locals are like part of the furniture. With houses being over one hundred years old, and a church that stands as old as time itself, this tiny village has captured an essence of a time before. A time capsule in the form of a community.

Chords of light stream through the trees, illuminating the world below my window-sill. It bathes the surface in gold, and soon my world is shimmering with daylight. It reveals the bright soul of this place. Yet, that isn’t enough to block out the dark secret.

The black concrete at my feet could swallow me whole. The power it holds is undeniable, no matter how innocent it may look. This road snakes through my quiet village as loud as thunder. You cannot escape it, especially when it’s darkest secrets are revealed.

This stretch of road strips this village of its beauty. Nothing seems beautiful when Death Valley takes its next victim. The secret is, this road has taken more lives than the locals would care to admit. We are not proud of the name.

The name “Death Valley” sounds like something of fiction, but the pain it brings is very real. To those who haven’t heard of the secrets, this horrible contrast must seem like a myth. Unfortunately, a myth born from truth can never be a myth at all.

Like the Roman god Janus, this valley has two faces. One face holds the beauty of nature, and one holds the horror of death. This beautiful scenery has been tarnished by something much worse, and everyone has paid a price. Even I have felt the sorrow, loosing a childhood friend.

It is unbelievable that something so beautiful can bear something so tragic. The trick is to remember the light, even in the darkest times. A sunset is a reminder that even though there will always be an ending, a new life will begin again.

Every sunset promises a new beginning, the darkness will disappear and the sun will rise again.

healing
2

About the Creator

Leigh Hooper

A writer in her twenties with a head full of ideas and a room full of books✨

My Instagram handle is: @leighooper

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.