Winter Rest

A Very Short Story by Deborah Meier

It is a moonless winter night, and the air is crisp and clear, with the smell of stinging, invigorating cold. The snow is glistening under the light of the stars, dampening most sounds into quiet. Yet every now and then, some leftover leaves rustle with life as deer make their way through the forest in search of food and shelter.

There’s not much light on this mountain as there aren’t many houses. The people who choose to live here are huddled inside in the warm glow of their homes. Fresh air intermingles with the cozy smell of a warm fire wherever there are chimneys smoking.

Nobody pays any heed as she makes her way up the road and into the forest. She finds her steps along the path by starlight and memory, greeting the trees as the old friends they are. Her destination is buried deep amongst the evergreens. As she scrambles through thick roots of old growth, she can feel the earth humming in response to her arrival.

The heart of the mountain anticipates her coming home when the days get short and the nights get dark. So, every year, she returns and buries herself amongst the roots, sleeping with them and finding her quiet. This is her time to cocoon, her time to ruminate, her time to rest. Whispering into the earth about her dreams for herself and the world. Planting her seeds for the coming seasons. Drifting away, even just for a bit. And as she dreams amongst the trees, the trees dream amongst her.

While she sleeps, the earth sleeps and rests with her, preparing for spring to come. Sometimes it seems unfathomable, that the warmth will return and with it fresh leaves and flowers and fruit and hours upon hours of sunlight. Yet, just like every year, the days grow longer again, and the ground softens. She is waking as the snow is melting and the birds are sharing their song once more. She grows out of the earth and into the world. Ready to grow and harvest the seeds she has sown, as she rested.

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Deborah Meier is a writer from Switzerland. Her love for writing comes from her love for stories. She also loves music and singing, enjoying karaoke on rare nights out. As a surfer in a landlocked country, she spends her time in Switzerland swimming, enjoying nature, and doing yoga. When she’s travelling, she usually chooses tropical spots with gentle waves and good food. She’s been creating rituals around the moon and nature for many years, always trying to stay present and connected through meditation, writing, oracle, and tarot.

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