Image taken from www.maxpixel.net. This is a spooky story that I advise not to read before bedtime or for younger readers!
"Mummy, the tree just talked to me!"640Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYuRvF6kq3
I slowly looked down into the face of my confused daughter, waving and pointing frantically towards a giant oak tree next to the path.
"It was most likely the breeze Carly, that was what you could hear." I forced out an understanding smile.
"But it said my name, over and over again!" she continued to protest.
She was too young to understand the truth. At her age, I experienced the exact same event where I claimed that a tree spoke to me. And many beautiful and awful events happened throughout my life.
"Nature is trying to be friendly towards you, everyone else feels the same way." I spoke, gently leading Carly away from the oak. I could feel from the grip on her hand, she was starting to feel a little impatient.
"Can I say hello back?" she giggled.
Now, she was under the impression that this was all just a game. If only the oak tree was just an innocent occurrence. She couldn't face the danger, not now and not ever.
"Granny Peters is waiting for us my lovely, maybe another time?" I spoke quickly and headed in the direction of her home. Carly's look turned into a mixture of bemusement and sadness. She was only just a little kid after all, looking for some fun.
Seeing my Mum was always such a fun ray of sunshine, in our chaotic lives. My husband of six years walking out on the two of us, struggling to pay the monthly rent and the constant same nightmare involving me and a giant oak tree.
"Hello little Carly," smiled Granny Peters from the comfort of her armchair, "And hello my dearest daughter."
I smiled back, releasing my hold on my daughter as she ran towards her Granny for a hug. They were both close, I trusted my Mum not to let on to Carly that her life story was far from perfect.
"Now, your Granny was trying to bake some cookies for teatime. But they got a little... burnt." Mum gave a sad smile, "But we could always go and get some new ones!"
Carly perked up, "Of course! Then I can go back and say hello to the big oak tree that spoke to me!"
There was a long pause, the look my Mum had all but vanished. Instead, she was frowning hard, deep lines pinned across her forehead.
"I'm sure that was just your mind playing tricks on you Carly, or some loud kids having a runaround in the park." she finally spoke, daring to meet my gaze with a little hint of fury.
I was in big trouble. The park was the quickest route to where my Mum lived, going around the busy roads with a young child was asking for trouble.
"I heard it say my name, over and over." whined Carly.
"Now that's enough! This storytelling has to stop Carly. You heard nothing, absolutely nothing. Do you hear me?" bellowed my Mum.
I finally found the courage to speak up, "Granny Peters is right Carly, it must have been your mind playing tricks on you."
It was difficult to watch her face crumple up into a soggy sponge. What was even harder was watching her take off from the room with a sob. But the shock of the front door opening and slamming hard made my heart jump.640Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu1OI9Wnlo
"Look what you've done to her Susanna!" my Mum yelled, "She's four years old for goodness sake. She can't know the truth about that blasted tree!"
"We were running a little late, I didn't realise that we would be walking past that tree until she spoke up about it!" I raised my voice back at her. Already, feeling tired, annoyed and wishing that neither of us had bothered coming over.
"Well, we have to find her!" barked Mum as she gestured towards her walking stick, "Hand it over."
I did as I was told and quickly, I walked out the front and beckoned a neighbour over, "Have you seen my daughter? Four, brown hair in curls?"
"Yes, going towards the park." she spoke back, confirming my greatest fear.
"Please look after my mother, I need to find Carly." I said quickly before taking off towards the park. My daughter was in a lot of bother, getting mixed up in everything I had tried to shield her away from.
Just as I suspected, I spotted my daughter next to the big oak tree, laughing and waving her hands about.
"I hope we can be friends, let me climb up and build a treehouse onto your branches!" she yelled, clearly unaware that I was watching from a distance.
It happened so quickly, that I was too late in running forwards and pulling her away. There was a flash, her fingertip had touched the trunk, electricity running through her veins like wildfire. Being flung backwards towards the direction of some benches, her ear-shattering scream piercing not just my ears, but Granny Peters too.
"Noooooooooo!" my Mum yelled as she flopped onto the ground, pale as a feather, near dead as a stone.
Carly was still breathing, but a lot faster and deeper than I had ever seen her before. She wasn't dead. Yet.
"Carly!" I ran towards her, "Are you OK?"
She didn't speak, brown eyes wide open to show that she was obviously traumatised by what had just happened.
"The tree wasn't ready for you," I whispered into her ear, "Not yet."
Mum was moaning in discomfort on the ground, as stunned residents rushed forward to lift her back up onto her feet.640Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4ui8fYLKr
Carly blinked once, twice before she spoke, "No, but it will kill me one day."640Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaKh0ByIt2
