Fireflies dance in the trees.

I climb branch by branch

trying to catch them.

They would fly just out of my reach

and I’d lean back to watch.

Up here, the world is far away.

I can escape

and enjoy the view.

My parents’ cottage is a dot on the horizon.

Trees of all sizes surround me.

During the breaks from bad days, I play by myself.

Creating an imaginary world of families and love.

Or doing what I am doing now,

climbing trees,

dreading when I need to go down.

Can I just live up here?

Stay here forever and ever?

Never have to go to school.

Build a tree house to be safe from the weather.

My friends say it would be strange to be so high up

and to live by myself.

I don’t  care. I would have a fireplace for heat

like my grandparents do in their cabin.

I’d eat porridge like the 3 bears

and pretend I am Goldilocks.

I would be the happiest kid ever.