The forest was filled with silence I watched a firefly float near my leg. It’s light flickered and I noticed another light laying in the grass near my foot. The small bug floated to its mate and I looked up taking in the view of Auden's flowing leaves.

“Hey Auden?”

No response.

“Why do we exist?”

A soft wind brushed through the grass and weaved through the dangling leaves. I took in the smell of the earth's oils and soothing fragrance of multiple weeds.

“To learn the meaning of life.”

I yawned and let my thoughts drift.

Meaning of life? Interesting.

My eyelids grew heavy and I hugged my legs close to my chest, ignoring my aching stomach.

The night is truly beautiful. So many creatures and sounds. So many different smells and wondrous feelings. Yawning again, I groggily asked Auden.

“What is the meaning of life?”

Auden was silent, but right before I allowed sleep to overtake me he whispered a simple answer.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Days passed and I repeatedly met with Auden and hung out with Oliver. Though various times he would cancel to hang with the Trio. I was hurt but he made it up to me by bringing food.

July was now here and after a long day of asthma attacks because of the firework smoke and intense heat, I passed out under my Willow tree. In the morning I awoke to my mother's voice calling to me from a distance. I fluttered my eyelids open and yawned taking in the humid July morning air.

Damn it…

I stood up and ran home thinking of excuses to tell my mother. While passing the graveyard, I noticed Oliver standing at a gravesite. I stopped outside the wooden fence and observed him. He looked ghostly.

“Timothy! Where are you?” My mother's voice was filled with worry. I looked in her direction and frowned. I then, brought my attention back to Oliver but he had disappeared from the place he once stood.

“Timothy!”

I began running again. Stress was present on my mother’s face. I huffed coming to her and she wrapped her arms around me. The feeling was awkward…

“Oh my sweet Timmy. Where were you? I needed to talk to you I'm so sorry I hurt you I wasn’t myself, please, I'm sorry.” She collapsed at my feet hugging my waist as she once did before.

I sighed and told her I loved her too. My voice was robotic but she didn’t seem to notice.

After she calmed herself she stood up and cupped my face.

“Timmy The Fourth Of July is tomorrow. Now I know how you are with the air so please just stay inside. I can’t… I can’t lose you like…” She began mumbling to herself and hopped into her car. My empuzzlement planted itself in the creases of my face.

“Okay? Since when does she care?”

My mother may act motherly but she’s stone cold like I am… She doesn’t care about me.

“Hey Tommy!”

Gasping out in fear, I jumped forward and looked back. Oliver stood behind me with a smile spread across his thin lips. He wore a black short-sleeve shirt and ripped up jeans.

“It’s Timothy.” I said in an unenthusiastic way.

I don’t know why I let myself sound disappointed. My heart was jumping out of my chest seeing him.

“Yeah yeah whatever. Wanna hang out today?” He shoved a bag of chips in my left hand then grabbed my free hand and led the way down the road.

Heading to nowhere in specific Oliver talked about his plans about escaping late tomorrow night.

I listened patiently ignoring his little outbursts of suddenly remembering useless information. He had a habit of adding in random comments during the middle of his stories. I was glad to see he wasn’t itching his arm around me.

He must be comfortable.

Oliver swung his arms around rapidly when he got to the high point of his master plan. I held back laughter and tried to keep a serious face, but he he was just so funny looking when he got pationate about this dumb plan. I mean, has he never sneaked out before?

“So, probably around 10, I know my ma will be asleep because she’s an early sleeper, and I will climb out my window and leave a wood chip in it that way I can climb in without trying to open it up from the outside, because that’s literally impossible to do. You know how windows are.” He nudged my arm, “ And then I’ll meet up with Anthony down the road and Dylan and Jimmy are suppose to come there too but, they live farther away. They’ll have the fireworks and Anthony has the lighters. Then Dylan said we were gonna head to the edge of the forest or something. I don’t know how safe that’ll be but I’m super excited! I just hope I don’t get caught…”

He continued his rant for another ten minutes and I noticed we were in the middle of the woods. I searched around trying to pinpoint our exact location and I heard the rustling of leaves coming from my right. I stopped and searched the thickness making out an open area. A tenderness filled my body and I cut into Olivers self conversation..

“Do you know the Willow tree?”

Oliver searched my eyes questionably.

“Willow tree? Dude we are in the middle of a Poplar forest there’s nothing here but Oak, Maple, Birch and Pine. I don’t think there’s a Willow tree anywhere near this area. The only one I know of is in a park. But that’s miles away to where you used to live.”

“Okay first off, your nerd is showing.” I smiled. “Second, come with me.” I grabbed Olivers hand and pulled him toward the open area I had repeatedly visited for the past month. I bubbled with excitement to prove him wrong.

Making our way to the open space I smiled, feeling the warmth of the air.

“This is my place.”

I let go of his hand and headed toward the majestic looking tree and sat at the base of it as I always did. It’s trickling leaves reaching the forest ground kept me from seeing the look on Oliver’s face.

“Whoa…” His voice sounded breathless.

Oliver swept his hand through the leaves and traveled hesitant to where I sat. His jaw hung and I could see that he was trying to take the beauty of everything in as much as he could.

If only he knew that this tree could talk. That would get him going.

I snickered thinking about Oliver’s face but I knew deep down I couldn’t do that.

“How did you find this place?” Oliver asked while sitting down.

“Just… ran into it…” I recalled how I found this place and how it was actually because of Oliver.

We sat there quietly for a little bit.

A thought brushed through my mind and I spoke without thinking first.

“Oliver, are we… Friends?” My head fell and my eyes were planted on my hands which were restless in my lap.

“Of course we are!” A bump shoved my shoulder and I rocked slightly. A smile hinting at the corners of my mouth.

Together we sat as time passed by slowly. Oliver, in the peacefulness, fell asleep. He seemed exhausted from his excitement and I could then, without embarrassment, show my true smile.

He seemed ghostly sitting there. As if the light from the distant sun shone threw him. His breathing was simple and pleasant. I took note of his long black lashes and soft brows. His hair brushed slightly to the side looking charmingly as it shaped his round face.

“So this is Oliver.”

A warm chill ran through my body like usual and I replied with a nod.

“He looks like your. I thought for awhile it would be him who would discover me but, he seems blinded by fame and the fake glories of the world.”

“What do you mean?” I asked in a whispered voice. Trying carefully from waking Oliver.

“Well you, my child, came to me with open eyes and a mind full of curiosities. But this boy. He seems to have all his questions answered and life fulfilled, though it may all be false.”

I sigh quietly to myself and brushed off the uncomfortable feeling that Auden's words were giving me.

Though it may all be false? Questions unanswered? Full of curiosities?

“Timothy.”

Auden's voice echoed inside my chest as if bouncing through my veins and running its way just under my skin to the center of my heart. Him saying my name reminded me of my father's voice. So confident and strong yet soothing and reminiscent.

“I fear… That things will change.”

I gulped and looked up taking in the view of Auden’s inner branches. The leaves resembled soft raindrops. Pitiful tears, as if the tree was crying.

“What do you mean ‘change’?” My question floated in the air disappearing within the beautifully twisting branches and I was left without an answer.

I clicked my tongue hating the silence.

Oliver’s eyelids slowly opened and I lost my smile in embarrassment. Oliver sat up straight and cleaned up the drool from his chin. I scoffed watching him.

“How long was I asleep? Why didn’t you wake me?” I could tell he was getting embarrassed and defensive for his voice kept getting higher as the questions kept flowing from his mouth.

I smirked and lightly shoved him backward getting him to stop.

“You were only out for a little bit, and I didn’t wake you because I was making a mental image of your stupid looking face.” Oliver's face grew a soft tinted red and he shoved me hard. I rolled backward and started taunting him.

“Haha, and when you started to drool I laughed at you, and you even said something.”

The last part was a lie but Oliver's face grew a deeper red. He lurched at me but I dodged him in a swift movement. He then stood up and started chasing me around the Willow tree.

I ran into the woods carrying us away from the peaceful place. I kept laughing and he eventually started laughing with me as he chased after me. Our childish cackling filled the woods and I dodged his clear attacks of tackling.

“Hey!” I halted in my spot and Oliver did so behind me. We both looked at each other confused.

“Shorty! Where the hell are you?” Fear struck us both and I dove into a nearby bush and was meet with millions of little pricklings stabs layering my body.

Shit.

“Hey, Dylan,” Oliver said in a tense yet sad tone.

“Haha what the hell are you doing out here?” Dylan looked around searching the area.

I kept from moving. His eyes looked carefully at each surrounding object. He squinting once or twice to narrow his vision on certain upgrown roots and dangling vines that has a similar form of a foot or leg.

Why am I hiding?

“Nothing just going for a walk. Where're the others?” Oliver asked trying to lure Dylan's attention back on him.

“You went by yourself? Ha, what a nerd.” He ruffled Oliver's hair as done before. I guessed it was a thing he always did. “The boys are in town trying to steal some fireworks for tomorrow.”

Oliver shifted and brushed his now messed up hair to the side again.

“Seriously, were you out here alone?” Dylan scoffed.

Oliver’s hands moved to behind his back and he kicked the dirt.

“Mhmm…”

Dylan reached in his pocket and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. He took in a couple of huffs after it lit then let out a small puff of smoke. They both watched it collect then dissolve in the air. I felt my throat close up as I imagined breathing it in.

“Whatever Shorty, come on. I want you to help me find a spot for launching them.”

Dylan's hand grasped Oliver's shoulder then slid to the other shoulder.

They left the area with Dylan cussing and laughing.

I stood from my spot and stayed silent watching them leave.

Damnit.

The forest was now quiet and I regretted my decision of hiding.

I imagined Oliver running back and saying that he ran away from Dylan because he enjoyed my company far more. The thought made me smile but I then cursed myself for wishing for something so unrealistic.

Why do I let my hopes get up? I miss him though…

After walking aimlessly for the next few hours I went home early. But as once before I decided to leave after hearing my mother’s mumbling.

She is always mumbling… I didn’t even get to talk to Oliver about my mom. Maybe tomorrow?

With that, I walked back to Auden and drifted off to sleep letting the darkness devour me.

The air was damp and snow drifted in through my rooms open window, finding its destined place upon my floorboards. Grief struck my body as I realized where I was.

This dream again huh?

I stood in front of my bed looking at the colors mixing together on my covers like autumn leaves do while lying fashionably on a forest floor.

I spun in my room trying to piece together what my unconscious was trying to tell me. My room was filled with the same ghostly fog, the mirrors cracked and a pain ripping its way up my arm.

I looked down to see a trail of blood starting from an open cut to the edges of my fingers. Guilt filled my chest. I felt disgusting.

“Timothy? Timmy where are you?” My dad came into my room searching my bed and closet.

He obviously couldn’t see me. But why?

My father ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and I could see burning fear in his eyes. He ran out of my room and disappeared within the fog.

I took a step out of my room searching the small apartment.

The TV was on but it just buzzed static. Nevertheless, it was a quiet room with motionless walls and a small broken love seat. I looked at the magazines sitting atop a small plastic table but the words were smeared together making it difficult to read.

‘Boy found dead… Suicide victims… Another accident… December 4 a terrible… ’

My body then shook as if a sharp wind cut through me.

“Timmy…” I turned around seeing my mother’s back. She sat at our kitchen table mumbling to herself.

In the back of my mind, I heard a distant bark. The sound brought goosebumps to settle into my skin. Each one looking as if it were about to burst.

I stepped forward seeing my mother holding onto a bottle of pills. They were colorful in a simple way and I could tell my mother was out of her senses.

“Timmy...Where did you go?”

I opened my mouth to speak but no words were heard. The mist rose up from the ground and the static from the TV was all I heard.

I slammed my eyes closed and covered my ears. The sound pained my head and I hesitantly opened one eye. As I did, the static dispersed and I was shocked by the new scenery around me.

I was in a vehicle. A small ashy colored BMW.

I sat in the back seat but it felt like I was looking through a TV screen. The running image shifted from looking through the back to the dash to my father’s face.

He seemed nervous…

I watched the thin red needle slowly go up. What started at 20 was now to 50 and still rising.

I then was flashed an image of a speed limit flying by that read 25. Panic grew in my numbness.

An alleyway was flashed with a boy's back and a barking German Shepherd.

He held a metal pipe and had a faded green and blue striped backpack slung over his shoulder.

“Timothy?” I heard my father's voice grew in anticipation as he looked to the right seeing the same image. His eyes lit up and he smiled…

I was then flashed a shining bright light and a constant sound, one like a car horn.

Was it my father's?

Squealing tires came next but I was suddenly standing in the ally way.

No…

The dog jumped and behind me I heard the fatal noise of a car slamming into the side of an overpass and it’s metal frame tipping over the side…

“Dad!” My body convulsed forward as I cried out to my dad.

Pain and confusion flooded my body as I sobbed. My small body rocked as I tried to ignore the aching deep within my chest. My choked wails echoed through the forest and I was open to the painful realization of remembering.

“M-my dad… my best friend…” I screamed into my arms with agony twisting my stomach.

“What’s wrong my boy?” Auden's voice wrapped around me.

I gasped on the cool night air.

“Auden… I-I….”

“Relax my boy, it was just a nightmare. Take your time child.”

After a long moment, I wiped my flushed cheeks and stared up at the great Willow tree gripping its trunk.

Was it really just a nightmare?