A Tale of Wander
The grass lustrous as I walk through a family of flies.
~
Be quiet cars, as I rounded the corner I caught the smell of her moisturiser, maybe her perfume. She’s messaging someone, straight face long dark hair with her glasses on. Heat trapped under my armpits I opened my jacket. I thought I was at the top, but I needed to cross the road.
I see a woman dropping her mail off inside a pillar post box, up I go as I catch a glimpse of a pretty white flower. Tiny petals, delicate enough for me to pull one by one. The breeze is picking up and I must turn to my right a black car is waiting at the back of the queue in my sight.
We always pick the wrong way, I had to remind us once again. I see a yellow vehicle and a car about to park. Two children chatting wearing matching white shirts.
There’s a knocking sound behind me, two men on a roof. Reaching the bridge I see the sun through the branches and the leaves. The grass lustrous as I walk through a family of flies.
There’s a woman running I tried and failed not to look at her ass, but ahead as I turn to my right a black dog heading off the path. I looked down and back up again and it was closer than I thought.
Before I could take my next breath I was swallowed by a tunnel, lights trailing ahead leading us forward. My hands were freezing and the drops of water can be heard. Behind me or ahead, I can hear chatter. Mumbling of things I could not understand, the echo of the tunnel dulling, making their words sound like it’s bubbling up from the mud.
The sky became visible overhead after a time, but a tree had fallen in our way, we walked around it and infront of us was a child running but as they got closer I realised it was a grown woman.
We sat down to eat our sandwiches and on the sign it says (hum frown tunnel) on the leaf there was a swirl and with closer inspection, a snail glued on.
After a boy with a head of curls walked by, our surroundings became quiet. The sound of the birds became a distant memory and ahead we saw a white light, contrasting the yellow glow of the tunnel lights. We could not tell if it was the light at the end of the tunnel or it was a random person on a bicycle.
The speakers gifting us its tune, letting us know that we were not alone. It was glowing and blinking at us, like eye balls that were open and alive.
I heard a dying woman breathing breathless from her run. We laughed and my nose began to drip from the cold.
There was a grey door, I reached to open it but I realised there was no handle. A drop of water hit my head then rolled down my left brow, then I was met by the curly head boy I saw earlier.
Standing in between a barbed wired fence the sky over head appeared blue with its whispy clouds. I could hear the birds, and see a river on my left. A lifebuoy and it’s reflection grotesque down below.
I heard a bird and it sounded like a helicopter, I looked for where it was and the branch it was on was still bobbing. I was frightened until I caught a whiff of cow poop.
It’s getting dark and a lone leaf flew down before us, no matter how far we walked, constant loud flapping of the wings in the sky beat at our hearts every couple of seconds.
My wings are no longer outstretched, our senses are tingling to keep on the path that was safest. The leaves turned from red, yellow and orange to black. They lay still against the sky as two lights came towards us.
♥️ Thank you so much for reading!
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A/N A tale that was birth through an adventure we went on the other day. I wrote this at the exact moment everything was happening, and edited it when we got home. Not too much, so not to lose the parts of it that made that day unique. Thank you so much for dropping by.
About the Creator
Caitlin Charlton
poetry too close to home
🪄~unique fictional stories 💎 you’ve never known 🪄
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More stories from Caitlin Charlton and writers in Earth and other communities.
This Monday
The city is locked to Charlie and everything is behind those walls. There is a man with a knife under the table and a lady with 3 more days to live. A child crying for their father and a grandmother too tired to stand. A lady up the street swaying on her leg and a man on the 3rd street laying on the grass, arms outstretched as if he’s never had 8 hours of sleep.
By Caitlin Charltonabout a year ago in Earth
Pyrolysis as a Strategic Instrument in Modern Forest Management
Forest management has entered a phase defined by competing pressures. Fire risk is rising. Biomass residues are accumulating. Carbon accounting expectations are tightening. Pyrolysis has emerged as a technical lever capable of addressing these constraints simultaneously. Its value lies not in abstract sustainability claims, but in its operational and ecological consequences when integrated into forestry systems.
By Wayne Shen6 days ago in Earth
China Bans Rare Earth and Strategic Exports to Japan After Takaichi’s Comments
China’s decision to ban certain rare earths and other strategic exports to Japan for military purposes has sent a sharp signal across the Asia-Pacific region. Triggered by comments from Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi, the move highlights how trade, technology, and national security are now inseparable in an era of intensifying geopolitical rivalry. What may appear on the surface as a targeted trade restriction is, in reality, part of a much broader struggle over influence, deterrence, and the future balance of power in East Asia. By using export controls as a political response, Beijing has once again demonstrated how economic tools are becoming central instruments of statecraft. The Spark: Takaichi’s Comments and Beijing’s Reaction Sanae Takaichi, a prominent conservative figure in Japanese politics, has been outspoken on issues related to defense, Taiwan, and Japan’s strategic autonomy. Her recent remarks — interpreted in Beijing as provocative and aligned with a more assertive military posture — appear to have crossed a red line for Chinese authorities. While Beijing did not frame its decision explicitly as retaliation, the timing left little doubt. China announced restrictions on the export of certain rare earth elements and other materials deemed sensitive for military applications, specifically targeting shipments to Japan. The message was unmistakable: political rhetoric has consequences, and China is prepared to use its economic leverage to enforce boundaries. Why Rare Earths Matter So Much Rare earth elements are not rare in geological terms, but they are extremely difficult and costly to process. China dominates global refining capacity, giving it outsized influence over supply chains essential to modern technology. These materials are critical for advanced weapons systems, electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, radar systems, and missile guidance technologies. Japan, despite being a technological powerhouse, relies heavily on imported rare earths, particularly from China. By restricting exports for military purposes, Beijing is targeting a strategic vulnerability. Even limited disruptions can slow production, raise costs, and force governments to rethink procurement and defense planning. Economic Statecraft in Action China’s move fits into a broader pattern of economic statecraft, where trade and investment tools are used to achieve political objectives. Over the past decade, Beijing has increasingly demonstrated a willingness to weaponize its economic position when disputes escalate. Japan is hardly alone in facing this pressure. Other countries have experienced similar tactics, from trade slowdowns to informal boycotts. What makes this case particularly sensitive is its explicit link to military use, pushing the dispute beyond economics and firmly into national security territory. For Beijing, the logic is straightforward. If rivals frame China as a threat, China will respond by reminding them of their dependencies. Japan’s Strategic Dilemma Tokyo now faces a difficult balancing act. On one hand, Japan has been steadily strengthening its defense posture in response to regional threats, including North Korea’s missile program and China’s growing military presence. On the other, it remains deeply integrated into China-centered supply chains. The export ban reinforces long-standing fears within Japan about overreliance on a single supplier for critical materials. It also strengthens arguments among Japanese policymakers for diversifying supply chains, investing in domestic processing, and deepening cooperation with allies. However, diversification takes time and money. Alternative suppliers exist, but scaling up production and refining capacity outside China is neither quick nor cheap. In the short term, Japan must manage the immediate impact while signaling resolve without provoking further escalation. Regional and Global Implications China’s decision is being closely watched across the region and beyond. For the United States and its allies, it underscores the strategic risks of concentrated supply chains and the urgency of building resilient alternatives. Washington has already been pushing for closer coordination with allies on critical minerals, including rare earths. The move against Japan may accelerate these efforts, encouraging deeper cooperation between the U.S., Japan, Australia, and European partners. At the same time, the episode adds another layer of tension to an already volatile regional environment. With disputes over Taiwan, maritime boundaries, and military modernization simmering, economic pressure increases the risk of miscalculation. A Message Beyond Japan While Japan is the immediate target, the signal is global. Beijing is reminding other countries that political statements, particularly on security matters, are not cost-free. The use of export controls as a response to rhetoric — not just policy actions — suggests a lowering threshold for economic retaliation. For middle powers navigating between China and the West, this creates a chilling effect. Governments may think twice before making public statements that could invite economic consequences, even when those statements align with domestic political priorities. Critics argue that such tactics undermine trust and accelerate decoupling. Supporters within China counter that the country is merely defending its interests in a hostile international environment. The Risk of Accelerated Decoupling Ironically, China’s use of export restrictions may hasten the very outcome it seeks to avoid: reduced dependence on Chinese supply chains. Each instance of economic pressure reinforces the perception that reliance on China carries political risk. Japan has already begun investing in rare earth recycling, alternative sourcing, and partnerships with resource-rich countries. This latest move is likely to intensify those efforts, even if it comes at higher short-term costs. Over time, a more diversified global supply chain could weaken China’s leverage. But in the near term, Beijing’s dominance remains a powerful tool — one it appears willing to use. Conclusion: Trade as a Battlefield China’s ban on certain rare earth and strategic exports to Japan is more than a trade dispute. It is a vivid example of how economic power is being deployed as a strategic weapon in a world defined by rivalry and mistrust. For Japan, the episode is a wake-up call about vulnerability and resilience. For China, it is a demonstration of strength and deterrence. And for the rest of the world, it is a reminder that in today’s geopolitical landscape, supply chains are as consequential as alliances. As tensions continue to rise, one thing is clear: the era of neutral trade is fading. In its place stands a world where economics and politics are tightly bound — and where a single comment can ripple through global markets and military planning alike.
By Muhammad Hassan5 days ago in Earth
Comments (9)
Your description made me feel as if I was there, loved it!✨🌿
lovely written
I love how in the author's note you basically explain that this is the literal changing of a day you had. But for me this also had some metaphorical elements to it, like how the colours on the trees turned bald/ not so vibrant... made me think of when love starts to fade/ become mundane. Beautifully written story though, Caitlin!
Very interesting how you slowly move the narrator from human to animal by the end of the story, almost a spirit drinking in every observation.
Oooo, I'm curious to know what sandwich that was hehehehe. Loved your story!
Daahlink~Caitlin—No stepping on ‘Cow Poop’ here—Glad we had our ‘Eye Balls Open & Alive’…! Just Marvelous..! j.in.l.a.
Ah, the afterword made the story suddenly come alive. I now get the sensation of a stream of consciousness on a nature walk. So cool.
This is quite the visual tale you have written here. Great work for I could see it all.
Even though all that you evoke in this beautiful story is sensory and real it has a wonderful surreal feeling to it, especially the line beginning with ‘my wings were outstretched…. Magical. I had to read it twice for the simple pleasure bubbling within it.