Drops of rain lingered on the pine boughs, simmering diamonds among emerald filigree.
A rich, earthy petrichor, created by a pre-dawn shower, sweetened the air. A cooling mist rose from the warm ground, giving the forest an ethereal feel. As she walked down a worn path beneath the interwoven canopy of tree limbs, she expected to stumble upon a fairy ring.
Inhaling the fragrant air, she felt her stress ease out with every breath. All around her, the music of the forest rose in crescendo, drowning out the city noise that had settled in her mind.
Pedantic and sedentary, her friends rejected all offers to join her ambles through the woods. They didn’t appreciate the healing powers of fresh air, and an unhurried pace. They always needed a destination, an itinerary, to feel productive.
She tried to share with them how she found redemption on these trips. That being alone with your thoughts, with no interruptions or distractions, could be very freeing. You have space to actually think. The only worries are having enough bug spray and water. Her friends could never imagine that she developed her best ideas on these hikes.
Maybe it was good that they didn’t come with her. Some invigorating downtime was one thing, winning the corporate rat race, was something all together different. She didn’t need to encourage the competition.
*I have to go out of town later this week, and I didn’t want to miss all the fun, so… I tried to combine a few prompts into one piece. I hope it doesn’t appear too forced, and that I managed to weave all three themes into one flowing fabric.
Thin spiral notebook 
It does not feel forced. Or maybe I’m just saying that because I too am partial to the solitary walk through nature. Great job with the prompt, Tara. Travel safely. Hope you’ll get time to come back and vote at the end of the challenge.
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They can have their rat race. Solitaire rules! Three prompts in one vivid little post = more time for you to get away? Anyway — nice job!
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Hah ho! No, she didn’t need to encourage them at all. Solitary has its benefits.
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Very nice.. I’d like to walk that walk.
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Your description was so evocative, I loved the ’emerald filigree’ LM x
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This was really beautifully done! I love walking in the woods, too-listening to that music of the forest-in peace:)
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I would love to be the one in that moment:)
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Nothing like being alone with your thoughts. I wish I had the opportunity.
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Doesn’t appear forced at all. More like I was joining you silently on your walk as you thought these things through. Even when I’m hiking with my guy we often walk for long periods without speaking, lost in our own thoughts. And you’re right some of our best ideas happen during those times. Nice piece.
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This is like getting a feeling of what is happening in your mind during your photo hikes…
Cool!
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