Bamboo. A hollow, sturdy plant, excellent for construction. I grew up in bamboo, and it has been by my side through everything. As I meander past towering stems, I begin to see colours...
I open my eyes, a small parcel is placed in front of me. I tear through the fine paper like a bird through the sky. As the paper falls, in among the wreckage lies a box of coloured pencils. A week later the walls of my cosy house are covered. The greatest canvas a child could dream of, with everything imaginable. Viridian fields lie under a cyan sky, speckled with soft, white clouds. A yellow sun peeks through, turning the crimson walls a dazzling orange. My loving mother places a warm hand on my shoulder. She beams brighter than my sun. Soon, we walk through the emerald green of the forest at springtime.
As I gaze upon the box of pencils that brought me to the academy, I begin to sweat. I turn, facing the sun. But it is not the sun that radiates towards me, but another. She smiles gently, as I pick up my pencils. I draw. The academy, with ivory walls, the lime forests of summer, and a coral, sunset sky. But all these are dull in comparison to her ebony hair, and soft hazel eyes.
The bell rings, and we kiss. Her dress like a cloud, her face the sun, shining through. We walk, hand in hand, through the amber forest, the cream papers signed, the ruby cake eaten. The day is filled with joy, my life, filled with purpose. I draw everything, our children, our garden, our home. All with the same, small box of pencils.
With every sunrise, a sunset will come. My pencils, tear stained with grief, draw her one last time. The jade forests, the grey academy walls. Her face, with one, final light. As my pencils finish the peach sunset, her eyes fall. I fall, shattered, and my pencils fall. This day will not be forgotten. I continue to draw, sunsets over forests, sunrises over mountains, greens, yellows, blues, reds. They fly over the paper like a moth near a light.
They are finished. My sun has set, and I shall soon follow. My journey through the forests is complete, and I close my eyes. Tomorrow, there will be a sunrise.
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