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He stretched out his toes so that the blades of the tall grass could tickle in between them. He took in the spring air, up into his nostrils, and let the fresh breeze cleanse his mind. As he smiled and gazed into the landscape he knew so well, he wondered how time could just pass so speedily, that he never had a chance to think about what he had, and what he was losing. Spending the whole of the summer taking in the gentle breeze, and not even once did it occur to him that his life might be changing.
Leon often climbed the hilltop, these days it seemed like he spent his life up there. He could lie back on his elbows and still see the main road running like a little stream at the foot of the grassy hillock. He watched the matchbox-like vehicles trundle along, carrying people and goods to their destinations. He never thought while he was up there, only breathed, nothing from the cluttered world beneath could reach him.
But today was different. He had climbed the hill, like he always did, for the last time. And he thought. He thought of his family, who supported him, and cared for him ever since he was so small that his father could hold him in the palm of his hand. Rock him to sleep, tuck him in on those cold frosty nights when the cupboard monsters might come out of their hollow layer to get him. Sing him lullabies, kiss his forehead and say that everything would be all right in the end. Today was his day for looking back. Looking back at his past friendships and his past loves. He had hoped that his friendships would last forever, but now, even when they seemed so strong, they had begun to fade away, like the cool breeze brushing against his cheek.
Crying wasn’t Leon’s style, but he just couldn’t hold it in any longer. Every tear that fell from his chin to the ground below him felt like a weight being lifted off his back. He cried for his friends, for they meant so much to him, he couldn’t bare seeing them leave without him. All he wanted was to lie on the grass and breathe, but now he was forced to think. The place that had kept him from crying, had made him cry. The place that had stopped him from feeling down, had made him so depressed, he couldn’t even describe. But it wasn’t just the wispy hilltop that saddened him, it was how he would have to leave it all behind. How he would have to go, start a new life. He longed for the youth that his teenage years had brought him, he wanted it back, he wanted some time. But he knew too well that nobody could be given time, or make it. It was over now, the breathing. He’d have to sigh, and drag himself forward. And think. What he’d been scared of doing for so long, he would have to face, and do.
He wasn’t alone, although he felt it. And as he closed his eyes, he could envision all the other souls on turning points in their lives, just as he was. But they didn’t seem so troubled. They must be as scared? Maybe they were, only he couldn’t see it.
And so, Leon made a stand. He got up, took one long breath, opened his eyes and ran. He ran from the very top of the hill, his feet flying. As he tore down the side all his fears, and tribulations seemed to leave him, it was as if the hilltop was holding them for him. Helping him to free himself. Tears streamed from his tired eyes, the salty droplets ran from the corners of them into his ear lobes, for he was running so fast., the wind had picked up so much speed. He let his arms trail behind him, letting even more of his experiences flow free. He felt as if something had lifted him high above anything he had ever seen from the hilltop. So he let go, and spun, spun for the last few metres to the bottom of the hill.
And there he lay, heart and mind pounding, beating so fast that he had to close his eyes to centre himself. But he lay happy and free, still a little scared, but more confident about what his future held and what he would become....
Leon often climbed the hilltop, these days it seemed like he spent his life up there. He could lie back on his elbows and still see the main road running like a little stream at the foot of the grassy hillock. He watched the matchbox-like vehicles trundle along, carrying people and goods to their destinations. He never thought while he was up there, only breathed, nothing from the cluttered world beneath could reach him.
But today was different. He had climbed the hill, like he always did, for the last time. And he thought. He thought of his family, who supported him, and cared for him ever since he was so small that his father could hold him in the palm of his hand. Rock him to sleep, tuck him in on those cold frosty nights when the cupboard monsters might come out of their hollow layer to get him. Sing him lullabies, kiss his forehead and say that everything would be all right in the end. Today was his day for looking back. Looking back at his past friendships and his past loves. He had hoped that his friendships would last forever, but now, even when they seemed so strong, they had begun to fade away, like the cool breeze brushing against his cheek.
Crying wasn’t Leon’s style, but he just couldn’t hold it in any longer. Every tear that fell from his chin to the ground below him felt like a weight being lifted off his back. He cried for his friends, for they meant so much to him, he couldn’t bare seeing them leave without him. All he wanted was to lie on the grass and breathe, but now he was forced to think. The place that had kept him from crying, had made him cry. The place that had stopped him from feeling down, had made him so depressed, he couldn’t even describe. But it wasn’t just the wispy hilltop that saddened him, it was how he would have to leave it all behind. How he would have to go, start a new life. He longed for the youth that his teenage years had brought him, he wanted it back, he wanted some time. But he knew too well that nobody could be given time, or make it. It was over now, the breathing. He’d have to sigh, and drag himself forward. And think. What he’d been scared of doing for so long, he would have to face, and do.
He wasn’t alone, although he felt it. And as he closed his eyes, he could envision all the other souls on turning points in their lives, just as he was. But they didn’t seem so troubled. They must be as scared? Maybe they were, only he couldn’t see it.
And so, Leon made a stand. He got up, took one long breath, opened his eyes and ran. He ran from the very top of the hill, his feet flying. As he tore down the side all his fears, and tribulations seemed to leave him, it was as if the hilltop was holding them for him. Helping him to free himself. Tears streamed from his tired eyes, the salty droplets ran from the corners of them into his ear lobes, for he was running so fast., the wind had picked up so much speed. He let his arms trail behind him, letting even more of his experiences flow free. He felt as if something had lifted him high above anything he had ever seen from the hilltop. So he let go, and spun, spun for the last few metres to the bottom of the hill.
And there he lay, heart and mind pounding, beating so fast that he had to close his eyes to centre himself. But he lay happy and free, still a little scared, but more confident about what his future held and what he would become....
(Only a wink needed, and he'll be at your feet.)
Wonderful stuff. Brilliant. Hard to put into words, but I really enjoyed reading it.
I hear that you're 14...same as me. I love to write, but school restricts me. The most I get to describe in English lessons is my bedroom.
I hear that you're 14...same as me. I love to write, but school restricts me. The most I get to describe in English lessons is my bedroom.
No problem, really. Many would have done the same.
That was beautiful :-)
My art teacher used to say that some people had an artist's eye for things. Most people would paint what was there, but those people managed to paint what was there and what wasn't there, and so they painted the best pictures. It didn't matter of what, they just used to see things differently.
You're the same with writing. If another person, with a few exceptions, had written that it would only have been a story about a person running down a hill. But when you wrote it, it transcended that. I don't mean in a person-running-down-hill= metaphor for life way or anything like that. You just saw it with a writer's eye.
What I'm trying to say is that it was brilliant :-D
My art teacher used to say that some people had an artist's eye for things. Most people would paint what was there, but those people managed to paint what was there and what wasn't there, and so they painted the best pictures. It didn't matter of what, they just used to see things differently.
You're the same with writing. If another person, with a few exceptions, had written that it would only have been a story about a person running down a hill. But when you wrote it, it transcended that. I don't mean in a person-running-down-hill= metaphor for life way or anything like that. You just saw it with a writer's eye.
What I'm trying to say is that it was brilliant :-D
Yup, excellent as always. Need to be at the top of the hill again.
Very good. I enjoyed reading that.
Turning-points are always a little scary. I remember I had to leave somewhere once when I didn't really want to - I was overcome with feelings of sadness, fear and excitement.
But leaving somewhere [perhaps prematurely] is always better than being left behind. I've always found that I've never regretted "change", but I've nearly always regretted not "taking a chance". If things don't work out, you can always go back. If you don't take a chance, the opportunity never returns.
Turning-points are always a little scary. I remember I had to leave somewhere once when I didn't really want to - I was overcome with feelings of sadness, fear and excitement.
But leaving somewhere [perhaps prematurely] is always better than being left behind. I've always found that I've never regretted "change", but I've nearly always regretted not "taking a chance". If things don't work out, you can always go back. If you don't take a chance, the opportunity never returns.
He stretched out his toes so that the blades of the tall grass could tickle in between them. He took in the spring air, up into his nostrils, and let the fresh breeze cleanse his mind. As he smiled and gazed into the landscape he knew so well, he wondered how time could just pass so speedily, that he never had a chance to think about what he had, and what he was losing. Spending the whole of the summer taking in the gentle breeze, and not even once did it occur to him that his life might be changing.
Leon often climbed the hilltop, these days it seemed like he spent his life up there. He could lie back on his elbows and still see the main road running like a little stream at the foot of the grassy hillock. He watched the matchbox-like vehicles trundle along, carrying people and goods to their destinations. He never thought while he was up there, only breathed, nothing from the cluttered world beneath could reach him.
But today was different. He had climbed the hill, like he always did, for the last time. And he thought. He thought of his family, who supported him, and cared for him ever since he was so small that his father could hold him in the palm of his hand. Rock him to sleep, tuck him in on those cold frosty nights when the cupboard monsters might come out of their hollow layer to get him. Sing him lullabies, kiss his forehead and say that everything would be all right in the end. Today was his day for looking back. Looking back at his past friendships and his past loves. He had hoped that his friendships would last forever, but now, even when they seemed so strong, they had begun to fade away, like the cool breeze brushing against his cheek.
Crying wasn’t Leon’s style, but he just couldn’t hold it in any longer. Every tear that fell from his chin to the ground below him felt like a weight being lifted off his back. He cried for his friends, for they meant so much to him, he couldn’t bare seeing them leave without him. All he wanted was to lie on the grass and breathe, but now he was forced to think. The place that had kept him from crying, had made him cry. The place that had stopped him from feeling down, had made him so depressed, he couldn’t even describe. But it wasn’t just the wispy hilltop that saddened him, it was how he would have to leave it all behind. How he would have to go, start a new life. He longed for the youth that his teenage years had brought him, he wanted it back, he wanted some time. But he knew too well that nobody could be given time, or make it. It was over now, the breathing. He’d have to sigh, and drag himself forward. And think. What he’d been scared of doing for so long, he would have to face, and do.
He wasn’t alone, although he felt it. And as he closed his eyes, he could envision all the other souls on turning points in their lives, just as he was. But they didn’t seem so troubled. They must be as scared? Maybe they were, only he couldn’t see it.
And so, Leon made a stand. He got up, took one long breath, opened his eyes and ran. He ran from the very top of the hill, his feet flying. As he tore down the side all his fears, and tribulations seemed to leave him, it was as if the hilltop was holding them for him. Helping him to free himself. Tears streamed from his tired eyes, the salty droplets ran from the corners of them into his ear lobes, for he was running so fast., the wind had picked up so much speed. He let his arms trail behind him, letting even more of his experiences flow free. He felt as if something had lifted him high above anything he had ever seen from the hilltop. So he let go, and spun, spun for the last few metres to the bottom of the hill.
And there he lay, heart and mind pounding, beating so fast that he had to close his eyes to centre himself. But he lay happy and free, still a little scared, but more confident about what his future held and what he would become....
Leon often climbed the hilltop, these days it seemed like he spent his life up there. He could lie back on his elbows and still see the main road running like a little stream at the foot of the grassy hillock. He watched the matchbox-like vehicles trundle along, carrying people and goods to their destinations. He never thought while he was up there, only breathed, nothing from the cluttered world beneath could reach him.
But today was different. He had climbed the hill, like he always did, for the last time. And he thought. He thought of his family, who supported him, and cared for him ever since he was so small that his father could hold him in the palm of his hand. Rock him to sleep, tuck him in on those cold frosty nights when the cupboard monsters might come out of their hollow layer to get him. Sing him lullabies, kiss his forehead and say that everything would be all right in the end. Today was his day for looking back. Looking back at his past friendships and his past loves. He had hoped that his friendships would last forever, but now, even when they seemed so strong, they had begun to fade away, like the cool breeze brushing against his cheek.
Crying wasn’t Leon’s style, but he just couldn’t hold it in any longer. Every tear that fell from his chin to the ground below him felt like a weight being lifted off his back. He cried for his friends, for they meant so much to him, he couldn’t bare seeing them leave without him. All he wanted was to lie on the grass and breathe, but now he was forced to think. The place that had kept him from crying, had made him cry. The place that had stopped him from feeling down, had made him so depressed, he couldn’t even describe. But it wasn’t just the wispy hilltop that saddened him, it was how he would have to leave it all behind. How he would have to go, start a new life. He longed for the youth that his teenage years had brought him, he wanted it back, he wanted some time. But he knew too well that nobody could be given time, or make it. It was over now, the breathing. He’d have to sigh, and drag himself forward. And think. What he’d been scared of doing for so long, he would have to face, and do.
He wasn’t alone, although he felt it. And as he closed his eyes, he could envision all the other souls on turning points in their lives, just as he was. But they didn’t seem so troubled. They must be as scared? Maybe they were, only he couldn’t see it.
And so, Leon made a stand. He got up, took one long breath, opened his eyes and ran. He ran from the very top of the hill, his feet flying. As he tore down the side all his fears, and tribulations seemed to leave him, it was as if the hilltop was holding them for him. Helping him to free himself. Tears streamed from his tired eyes, the salty droplets ran from the corners of them into his ear lobes, for he was running so fast., the wind had picked up so much speed. He let his arms trail behind him, letting even more of his experiences flow free. He felt as if something had lifted him high above anything he had ever seen from the hilltop. So he let go, and spun, spun for the last few metres to the bottom of the hill.
And there he lay, heart and mind pounding, beating so fast that he had to close his eyes to centre himself. But he lay happy and free, still a little scared, but more confident about what his future held and what he would become....