Autumn

It has been happening for a while now - the transformation. It's like a slow pulsing through my veins that is subtle but prominent enough that I cannot quite ignore it.

Instead of feeling vibrant and full of life, I have begun to feel as though I am curling at the edges; is this what they call "old age"? I am concerned that I have turned a peculiar colour. I remember whispers in the trees about this time of year - the time of change. It feels as though spring was just yesterday.

Now, suddenly, I am tired and lifeless. People stop and stare to admire me and my comrades - we are all in this together. Our proud golds and reds and browns compliment each other perfectly. We must be beautiful, but I know I certainly don't feel it. 

I hear a rustling that signifies a final goodbye from some of those close to me. It's time now for me, too, to complete my short journey. With a breeze as soft and quiet as a whisper, I detach from the branch that has been my life line for two seasons. As I flutter effortlessly to the ground, I can't help but feel satisfaction in the fact that I looked wonderful until the very end. 

Flowers

Flowers and plants

Are proof that life can grow

Even in the saddest,

Driest,

Most barren places,

If one only remembers 

To give them some light.

Child's Nightmare

I am swinging on my swing set. It is sunny outside and I can see my house - my brother's window first, then the bathroom and then the kitchen downstairs. I love my swing set. It's red like apples and the seat is yellow like my hair. I love to kick my legs and push myself as high as possible. I'm quite scared of heights but I know my mummy is inside the house and she won't let me get hurt.

I am swinging so high and my hair is blowing around. I smile and listen to the thudding sounds my feet make when they hit the ground and kick off again.

I hear something above me. I slow the swing down and look up, squinting at the sky. There is a strange animal sat on top of my swing - it isn't a bird, because I've seen pictures of them in books at school. This animal doesn't have wings so I wonder how it got on top of my swing set. It turns its head and stares at me. It has light brown fur, big eyes and something that looks like a beak. It reminds me of a koala that I saw at the zoo, but that koala looked much more friendly than this animal.

I want to shout for my mum but I am too scared. It won't stop looking at me and I don't like it. I squeeze my eyes shut, imagining that it would disappear. My eyes pop open when I feel myself moving - my swing has wheels! The wheels are on the bottom of the poles and my swing set is suddenly moving really fast. I'm not in my back garden anymore; I'm racing down my street and houses and cars are whizzing past me. I'm not scared until I look behind me and see that the animal has wings now and it is chasing me. It looks really angry and it makes me nervous.

My swing drives itself super fast to try and get away from the animal. It is flying behind me and trying to catch me, making angry squawking sounds. I feel so scared that I almost cry, but I tell myself that I mustn't cry because the animal will know and it will get me if I cry.

It is very close behind me now and I am tired. My swing slows down and I feel so sad because it is going to get me. I wish I could tell my mummy but the animal is going to get me now and I might disappear.

I close my eyes tight again and hope it doesn't hurt me. When I open my eyes, I am safe in my bed and I am so happy that I was only dreaming. Silly dream.