Anywhere but home

As a distressed and neglected child, I wandered into the distant wilderness for the first time

To get away from everything and everyone

To find peace outside my home, to find arms that will hold me and whisper words of kindness

Finding my feet travel through all types of surfaces, eyed glued to tracks in the woods, barely picking up my head until I hit a tree with my foot.

Unaware where the woods started or ended

Or which way I came in from

But something about the quietness and loneliness brought me inner peace

There my eyes danced and stared upon the wildest flowers

All beautifully painted in the brightest colors

At once singing me lullabies, allowing me to calm down and with each wave and rush of air between the locks of my hair, I found myself relaxing in this particular moment, in the woods, far away

The only sounds being from the breathing that came out my nose, leaves ruffles due to wind, and faint chirps of birds

I hadn’t known peace like this before

And ever since, I’ve mothered plants and animals and the nature that surrounded me

Because it had become a home to me during times I didn’t feel welcomed in my own.