The Forest for the Trees
For Kayleigh's Micro Fiction Challenge
They’ll never understand us symbiotes. I watched them cut us down time and time again, step mercilessly on our partners and curl their lips when their bodies broke like fish filets.
Forest nostalgia… A cruel irony.
The mycelia remember the stories of their human brethren. We grieve what’s been lost.
A/N: This was written for Kayleigh Fraser's very difficult 50-word micro fiction challenge! I had a great time writing it (and a couple more).
Photo Credit: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of H. Alan and Melvin Frank
About the Creator
Mackenzie Davis
“When you are describing a shape, or sound, or tint, don’t state the matter plainly, but put it in a hint. And learn to look at all things with a sort of mental squint.” Lewis Carroll
Boycott AI!
Copyright Mackenzie Davis.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Keep reading
More stories from Mackenzie Davis and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Father, Aglow
When Susannah opens the door, I remember why I lost you. It was ages ago, decades. Hell, centuries for all it matters. The years as they stare at me are fresh and new in the light from the deck. It’s orange and blue, you across from me, radiating the fire I put behind you. I am not the sun. Was not. I’ll end just as blue as a corpse in snow.
By Mackenzie Davis2 years ago in Fiction
Comments (5)
I only learned about mycelia fairly recently, but it's such a great way of showing how interconnected everything is, except us these days. Timely piece on deforestation but also on how we've lost sight of nature:/
Such a small thing--micro really--those thoughtless human beings.
OH! "We grieve what’s been lost." Love that line so much!
This was so poignant and profound. Loved this entry so much!
Excellent story for the micro fiction… interesting take on it. I had to look up the definition of mycelia!🧐