Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
We continue to walk down the trail, silently taking in the scenery. The sun is still high in the sky. Our flight was early, and there’s a time difference, so although it’s closing in on five in New York, it’s only almost one here. That’ll take some getting used to. By the time I’m adjusted to the time difference, it’ll be time to leave.
The thought saddens me. I don’t want to think about leaving when I only just got here. Instead, I close my eyes and take a deep breath of Alaskan air. That’s much better. I need to focus on the here and now, not the future.
I can worry about that later.
12
John
I want to pay attention to the scenery, but my eyes are trained on Mari. Watching her experience nature is almost as good as experiencing it myself.
She cranes her neck to see the birds in the tops of the trees. Her eyes are wide, and her mouth is open in awe. It’s adorable.
This is yet another reason why it’s easy to fall for Mari. She genuinely loves the things we love. She’s eager to be out in nature. Mari may have spent most of her life in one place, but she’s a wanderer at heart, just like me.
“You seem to enjoy the outdoors,” I remark.
Mari turns to me. “I do. Sorry if I’m ignoring you.”
“No, please, ignore us. You seem happy.”
Her smile widens. “I am. I love it out here.”
“I can tell. Your face says it all.”
Mari hides her face in her hands. I close the small distance between us and gently remove them.
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
“I feel so silly!” she mutters. “You guys are probably used to all of this since you travel a lot. But I’m experiencing it all for the first time.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just glad we get to witness this with you.”
“I grew up in Queens,” Mari explains. “There’s not much in the form of nature out there.”
That’s true. I love New York, but it is lacking in the environmental department. The city tries to make up for it with parks and random trees along the sidewalk, but it’s nothing like the real outdoors.
“So you’ve never been anywhere like this before?”
Mari shakes her head shyly. “The closest I’ve come is the camp my parents sent me to in Maine, but even that hardly counts. It wasn’t like the camps in movies where the kids actually have to build fires and stuff. We had nice cabins and running water. The camp more closely resembled the inside of our hotel than this forest.”
“That’s a shame.”
“It wasn’t all bad. We did go on a few hikes. I just wish it had been more outdoorsy.”
“We’ll take you camping in New York,” Mark says. “There’s a campsite upstate that you’d love. There are no major roads around, and you can see the stars because it’s far enough away from any light pollution.”
“Really? I’d love that!”
“We’ll go in the spring then. It’ll be amazing.”
“I can’t wait! I want to see the stars here, too. I bet they’re beautiful. Especially with how peaceful it is. I love that there aren’t cars blaring their horns everywhere here. I think that’s my least favorite part of living in the city.”
“Mine, too,” I agree. Sometimes I struggle to sleep because of how loud it is outside of my apartment. I have multiple white noise machines just to help drown out the sounds. I like the one that sounds like rain on a tent the best. It makes me feel like I’m camping, even when I’m in my city apartment.
“Thank you again for bringing me here. I feel like…I don’t know. I feel different.”
Mark and I share a thoughtful look.
“That’s because you’re an Earth mother,” I say.
“What?”
“You’re in tune with the Earth. You respect nature and feel at home in it. You belong with the trees and wildlife, not in a city.”
Mari is nodding the entire time I’m speaking. “That’s exactly how I feel! I didn’t realize that until now.”
“It’s a lovely way to live,” I continue. “You probably grow plants easily, and every animal you meet loves you.”
“I have a small garden in my dorm. Just a few herbs that I sometimes add to food or bring home to my parents.”
“See, not everyone can make a garden thrive in that environment. You must have a special touch.”
Mari blushes. “My parents have always said I have a green thumb. Most of our small backyard is filled with flowers and vegetables. I started growing things at a young age, and I guess I just never stopped. It never occurred to me that I might have a connection to nature.”
She steps toward a tree and brushes the low leaves. I pull out my phone and take a picture. Like I said, Mari looks like she belongs out here.