Bright hues seeped through the sky as the sun set the clouds ablaze with a deep red flame. Birds sang their last songs, flying over the horizon and perching onto the branches of their homes. Hands clutching a book, sat a girl, under the shade of an elderly tree, its leaves drooping over her figure. There was a tangible beauty in the quiet and calm, only the sounds of the river twisting and turning to be heard for miles, only the sweet scent of strawberry tart to be caught.
The breeze played with the girl's hair, long strands waltzing around, tamed every now and then with a swift motion of her delicate fingers. They turned the page and popped a candy in her mouth, filling the air with crisp sounds of muffled munching.
Putting her book down she turned to the array of delicacies that lay beside her, nestled on small plates, and decorated with rich colours. Earthy flavours bursting at every bite of her store-bought macarons, the velvety texture smooth against her tongue. She closed her eyes, her tastebuds having the time of their life. A contended sigh left her lips, her head hitting the coarse bark of the tree.
She stayed like that for a while, watching the grass flow in the wind, watching the occasional squirrel scurrying from one tree to another, watching ants carry the crumbs of her foods on their backs to their small homes.
With a soft grunt she stood up, brushing the earth off of her white dress, allowing it to flow past her knees. Hands high above her head she stretched, her muscles thanked her for the first change in position in an hour.
Singing a ballad, the flowers of the meadow waved, harmonising with the girl's sugary tone as she hummed a melody. And the girl waved back, giggling. The fresh air had made her loose her mind.
She took small steps towards the river, feet padding against the cool ground. Shards of grass tickled the soles of her feet, gentle sounds of amusement leaving her lips.
Contrasting the warmth of the air, the river was cold. Its cool waves weaved through her fingers, leaving a numbing sensation on her fingertips. She let out a breathy laugh at the sight of turtle staring up at her, eyes wide. In an attempt to touch the turtle she reached out, only to met with a soft plop and ripples where the turtle had disappeared. Giggles erupted from l her throat and she fell back, her back hitting the soft canopy of grass.
She lay there like that, eyes trained on the purple clouds floating above, hands over her stomach and hair sprawled underneath. Darkness had started to make its way into sky, drowning out bright hues, softening the previous pinks. The crescent moon peeked out behind a cloud and stars started to appear, sparkly jewels littering the sky.
She let the nights breath blow against the skirt of her dress, her laughs dying down and eyes fluttering close. Being in solitude had never felt this good, there was indeed a serenity in being alone.