By Teodora Vamvu
The air in the park smells earthy, like overbaked vegan banana bread—so many damn banana breads—and green, like the forest-perfumed disinfectant I used to furiously scrub everything.
A mother barks to her child, “Get back now, Lulu,” and I crack a full-toothed smile. The sound of others nearby is like a harmonized ballad to my lonely ears.
Scaly bark catches on my T-shirt, and I imagine the strained cotton threads holding on to each other like best friends reunited after enforced social distancing.
People pass by and eye me curiously, likely wondering, Is she hugging a tree?
I am.
Joyful and textured! Love it!
Thank you so much!
Thoroughly enjoyable tree-hugger story. Nicely done!