The orange sunrays break through my zebra blinds

way too early to be ready to be awoken

and then the cats outside are arguing

over which bird they will try to catch first

as they are sitting and chirping high on the tree branch.

I roll up the blinds and see an actual grass being green,

lemons turning juicy and jasmines blooming white,

trees growing some luxurious looking leaves,

kids playing outside in the playground,

and fresh wind letting in some cooling air.

I open the weather app

and see snow and cold around the world

while the sun is warmly hitting my back

and it makes it hard for me

not to be jealous of those living more up north.

But then I scroll to another month,

where it gets dry and scorching hot

and all the flowers and grass will be dead

so I close my eyes and enjoy the spring

before it is all gone.

The trees are bare and the sun is locked up in the cage made out of frost.

Our lands are stripped off their colorful garments while being forced to stand barren and frozen in time and place.

The world becomes a white globe of purity and sullen emptiness.

We stand here in the middle of a void storm with our cheeks and noses painted in the rosy red while the frost seeps through our veins, letting us linger between feeling alive and freezing off to death.

Then, with one look into this white reflection, where lies the cemetery of nature and the wasteland of missing sun, many realize how the world is sad and lonely without colorful wildflowers, chirping of newborn birds, fresh rays of the rising sun, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the hum of running river.

But I look at this sincerity the world has offered to us, not hidden in the veils of beauty and glamor but vast and bleak, and I have to wonder what the humanity would be like if stripped off its pretenses and riches and left to stand pure and naked just like this leafless oak tree in the middle of a February day.

STOMP. STOMP. STOMP. Enraged birds cursing on their flight as their calm lunch-break is disrupted. The crunchy leaves echo through the otherwise silent forest and all my friends turn their head to the source of the annoying noise and while deciding whether to run away or stare in interest.

And then I finally saw the noisy monster. But, to my surprise, it was not some big animal or any kind of monster but one of those human creatures. It was rather small, not much taller than me and its thin legs were moving ridiculously fast, making its approach in my direction. Its hair was a color of setting sun and strangely growing only from the top of its very round head.

But OH MY GOD, it was so noisy! With its every step the birds screeched in horror as they quickly flew away and the furry squirrels hurried to climb up the closest tree in hope of not being followed. But this thing just continued to run with an occasional high-pitched squeals for no reason whatsoever, spreading its arms as if trying to fly like a butterfly and jumping in a very funny way. Its head was turning all over the place, not knowing where to rest its curious eyes but… OH HELL NO.

Its eyes connected with mine and it finally saw me. Suddenly, the stomping stopped but my heartbeat picked up a pace. This thing watched me with utmost curiosity and I believe if I was closer I could see myself mirrored in its eyes. Then it took something from the blue thing in its hand and dropped it on the ground before its feet. My eyes followed to the ground and I could see a variety of acorns and other colorful feed, but then this thing started to step closer with a hand stretched before it with a piece of yellow root in it, looking at me expectantly.

Yeah, as if I am going to be dumb enough to let you come closer; I turned without hesitation and quickly started to jump away.

BYE, you annoying creature!

“Let’s skip the dinner.” I’ve heard almost every Christmas Eve after spending most of my day alone, awaiting the moment when we sit down to all the festivities and the real atmosphere of warmth and togetherness arrives. Then gifts were unwrapped and we fled each to our own room.

But now there is a Christmas feast at the table and the carols are playing in the background. The gifts under the tree are sparse but after they are unwrapped, we make a cup of tea and cuddle up to the movie, and that is the greatest Christmas gift of all.

I saw there your face. It was hidden between cracks on the frozen lake and freshly fallen snow, obscuring your fragile shape from the eyes of the beasts. February wind brought in a swirl of pine needles that were drawing blood into your face, giving it beautiful rosy tint and I thought you looked so lovely like a winter Venus of Arles. Now you just have to break through the ice and emerge from the water so we can admire and worship your beauty.

I tried to look into your eyes but they were averted in shyness, I imagine. Your lashes were so pale and they reminded of bare tree crowns of ashes and elms and your hair had the color of fall. I looked forward so you breathe life into those cheeks and frosty lips and my heart started to race a little.

A night has fallen and in my mind I got the thought of helping her a little. I could not wait to feel her warmth and lovely voice so I put my gloved finger through one of the cracks and pushed. But it was not her voice or warmth that welcomed me. I was greeted by a piercing cold whisper as another she dragged me into the hug of frost.

Reborn

Forced smiles and goodbyes,

left my weary soul behind

to take my first breath.

I stood there by your side as I watched you wither. Your rosy cheeks turned to hollow and your warm hug turned to a weak cold clasp.

You looked me in the eye and said you are living, but I looked back and there was no life left. The deceit of your lies has made me reach out into that deep abyss to save you from falling to the bottom. But you put on armor so impenetrable my hand had slipped and I lost you to the fiend of your mind.

I tried to dive deep, swim through the broken shards, open the gates of loneliness and yet you locked the door and built a new wall between us. Then my breath finished.

Many years have passed and my heart got fixed and I started to live. And now when I look at you, I must look away as there is still that abyss in your eyes inviting me fall into that old cold cell.

I stood there by your side, but now my heart is away.

My calloused fingers were slipping off the side rails as all my strength was drained already but I did not dare to stop climbing.

The ladder was shaking and rattling with the power of the monster following me. Its gruesome grunts continued to remind of the danger I was in and at the same time it made me move with a further urgency.

Suddenly, the steps stopped and my hands had nowhere to climb anymore. I looked to the top and there was no escape.

The grunts approached quickly. Then sharp claws ensnarled my ankle, pulled me down and —.