Katherine Nicolai

Birds and small animals had left their mark. A lone bench sat on the bluff, and I found my way to it. stretching my legs out and crossing my ankles, tipping my head back to let the sun warm my face. Sometimes we get caught up in questions about what it all means, what we are meant to be achieving, where we are meant to end up, and by what age, and with what accolades.

Birds and small animals had left their mark. A lone bench sat on the bluff, and I found my way to it. stretching my legs out and crossing my ankles, tipping my head back to let the sun warm my face. Sometimes we get caught up in questions about what it all means, what we are meant to be achieving, where we are meant to end up, and by what age, and with what accolades.

Birds and small animals had left their mark. A lone bench sat on the bluff, and I found my way to it. stretching my legs out and crossing my ankles, tipping my head back to let the sun warm my face. Sometimes we get caught up in questions about what it all means, what we are meant to be achieving, where we are meant to end up, and by what age, and with what accolades.

But what if just living is the point?

But what if just living is the point?

But what if just living is the point?

On the far side of the lake, a gaggle of geese paddled through the water. And I wondered if they had stayed through the winter or just returned from a few months away. My brain, so used to jumping ahead or floundering in the past, now stayed, longer and longer, with the scents and sounds and sights. I let my heart rate slow, found myself sighing and even yawning.

On the far side of the lake, a gaggle of geese paddled through the water. And I wondered if they had stayed through the winter or just returned from a few months away. My brain, so used to jumping ahead or floundering in the past, now stayed, longer and longer, with the scents and sounds and sights. I let my heart rate slow, found myself sighing and even yawning.

On the far side of the lake, a gaggle of geese paddled through the water. And I wondered if they had stayed through the winter or just returned from a few months away. My brain, so used to jumping ahead or floundering in the past, now stayed, longer and longer, with the scents and sounds and sights. I let my heart rate slow, found myself sighing and even yawning.

I turned on my bench, slinging my arm over its back, and looking toward the willow tree.

I turned on my bench, slinging my arm over its back, and looking toward the willow tree.

I turned on my bench, slinging my arm over its back, and looking toward the willow tree.

It was forty feet tall, if it was an inch, and the span of its branches looked just as wide. I pushed up to my feet and started toward it. There were stepping stones dotted along the bluff, and I followed them, stretching out my stride to nearly leaps and places. They led away from the water, And eventually I was under the golden dome of blooming willow branches.

It was forty feet tall, if it was an inch, and the span of its branches looked just as wide. I pushed up to my feet and started toward it. There were stepping stones dotted along the bluff, and I followed them, stretching out my stride to nearly leaps and places. They led away from the water, And eventually I was under the golden dome of blooming willow branches.

It was forty feet tall, if it was an inch, and the span of its branches looked just as wide. I pushed up to my feet and started toward it. There were stepping stones dotted along the bluff, and I followed them, stretching out my stride to nearly leaps and places. They led away from the water, And eventually I was under the golden dome of blooming willow branches.

I'd read somewhere that willows have other names.

I'd read somewhere that willows have other names.

I'd read somewhere that willows have other names.

And I liked the way both of those words felt in my mouth.

And I liked the way both of those words felt in my mouth.