Winter faded and Spring quickly moved in to replace the cold, bleakness with warmth and bright colors. It was a welcomed change that many people had been looking forward to. Add onto the fact that Easter was a mere week away, people were out and about enjoying the new season. It was to be expected. Everything was in bloom. Even the cherry blossoms had manifested into a beautiful display and were the stars of the show on that particular day.


Many families, friends and lovers had gathered under the blossoms. Some came with picnics while others came with just a blanket to rest upon to stare up at the boughs. A few here and there had brought musical instruments that were easily ported to the site and serenaded those around them. One particular red-head had arrived with a small blanket, a sandwich wrapped up in a napkin in a small bag, her sketch pad, and a mechanical pencil. With the day off, with it being Sunday, Gwen was able to enjoy the blooms and just try and relax which was something she didn’t do often anymore.


Finding a spot was not the easiest of challenges. Many of the best spots had been taken already, but Gwen had an interest in a specific area. It would take her out from under the trees themselves and actually made her options, well, completely open. She found herself a little knoll to place her blanket out on before tossing her sandwich down on it and herself immediately after. Heaving a sigh, she held her arm up to block the sun from her eyes as she looked up at the blue, almost cloudless sky. It was a good thing she had caked her sunscreen on today, but even then her time would be short lived in such an open space. So, not to waste time, the woman grabbed her sketch pad and her pencil and turned her attention to the scene in front of her.

The cherry blossoms created a beautiful, picturesque scene. Add in the people basking in their shade and the city in the background, it was the most perfect scene for her to draw.


Pencil met paper as she began with simple shapes, creating her base for the sketch before slowly adding more and more detail. It was times like this that Gwen could let herself go. Let go of all of her worries, stress, self-doubts, and just simply live. The sound of her pencil scratching at the paper with each stroke was the only thing she heard as she worked. Even the murmur of people around her didn’t bother her. She was in a meditation of sort. Nothing was bothering her. Not her work, her lack of social life, Wonder work, squire duties, not even Isaiah were going to ruin this for her. She was determined.


Nothing was going to ruin this day.


Gwen began to include even more details. The tree’s became more pronounced, the petals more obvious amongst the boughs while some floated towards the Earth to the viewers below. Slowly everything gained more perspective, more life, and Gwen basked in the calmness it brought to her overworked mind.


How much time had passed since she arrived and began to sketch, she had no idea and nor did she care. Only once had she paused in her work to eat her sandwich and that she had only done when her stomach protested to heavily against a lack of food.


Those around her and under the trees had changed. The crowds were not as dense and less families were around and instead were replaced with more couples and teenage groups. It was getting late. The sun had shifted it’s position and Gwen hadn’t even noticed until she put the final pieces on her work. It was then she noticed her red arms which were also sporting more freckles “Great.” She murmured.

Like a switch her mood altered. She no longer had the distraction. There was nothing to meditate over. Like a flick of a switch Gwen went from calm, collected and content to feeling anxious, uncertain and unwanted. Maybe she should have worked longer. Maybe there was something else she could focus on? Something to let her enjoy the day again.

Blue eyes quickly shifted to the other scenes around her. She tried to pick something. Anything. All she saw around her were laughing friends, families and...lovers.


Sucking in a deep breath she snapped closed her sketch book. The resounding thud of the pages slamming into one another was barely noticed as she hurried to grab her things. A strong desire to leave, be on her own, to hide, was beginning to overtake her. She couldn’t move fast enough as she stood. The blanket wasn’t even given the grace of being folded up correctly. Instead she wadded it up and shoved it between her arm and body. Her sketch book was shoved between the blanket and her side and her pencil behind her ear as she made her way from the park doing her best to enjoy people.


Head ducked down she used her hair as a veil to keep her attention on the walkway below her. She could pretend there was no one else around.


The walkway turned into the sidewalk. It was the only indication that she was out of the park. Away from everyone. It was when she felt safe enough to lift her head to look ahead. She paused to take a few deep breaths. To try and get herself back under control. She had enjoyed the bliss. Had basked in it. Let herself believe that it was how she felt every day, but when the distraction was gone...it had been too much.


The emotions came crashing down harder than she had expected.


She could right herself again though. It could be done. She’d done it before and she’d do it again. It took acceptance of what her life is now and to try and see the beauty in what she had instead of mourning what she felt she had lost...or was loosing.


She could do it.

Taking a steadying breath, Gwen adjusted the blanket and book under her arm and set off to the bus stop. There she’d be able to fold up her blanket properly and maybe even get a short nap on the ride home if she was lucky. After all, she still had her evening duty to take care. That job certainly didn’t take holidays of any sort.

WC: 1089