Zora was a restless soul, always in search of something she couldn't quite define. She tried everything from religion to meditation to therapy, but nothing worked. Her search for answers only intensified her feeling of being lost.
It was only when she hit rock bottom that peace found her. After a painful breakup had shattered her world, she spent days crying in her room, trying to make sense of it all. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of emptiness.
One day, she walked in the woods behind her house. The air was crisp, and the leaves were changing colors. As Zora walked, her thoughts roamed as she tried to clear her mind of all the negativity weighing her down.
A rustling in the bushes caught her by surprise. Her heart rate quickened as she prepared herself for the worst. A deer emerged from the woods and gazed at her with fearless brown eyes. Zora froze, not wanting to scare it away.
They gazed at each other. Then, the deer took a step forward, and Zora thought: It either has poor eyesight or isn’t afraid of me.
It walked past her, close enough that its soft fur brushed against her arm, making the hair all over her body rise in goosebumps and tingle at the contact. It was magical.
From then on, Zora spent more time in nature, taking long walks and immersing herself in its beauty. She started noticing things she had never seen before—the leaves rustling in the wind; the birds singing in the trees, the squirrels gathering and burying their nuts, the sun setting over the horizon, and the stars twinkling in the night sky.
As Zora became more in tune with her surroundings, she felt more in tune with herself. She understood her tiny role in the vast universe, which was connected in every way.
One autumn day, Zora climbed to the top of the hill that overlooked her town. She reached the summit and saw breathtaking views of the world below. As the sun set over the horizon, it cast a warm golden glow over the buildings and streets. The sky adorned itself in shades of pink and orange as the clouds looked ablaze. Zora felt like she was the only one alive.
A voice came from behind her.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Zora saw an older woman standing a couple of feet away. She wore a navy tracksuit and white sneakers, and had her dreadlocks pulled into a ponytail. Her eyes were blue, like a cloudless sky.
“Yes, it is,” Zora said.
The woman smiled.
“You know, when I was your age, I used to come up here often. It’s a good place to clear your mind.”
Zora nodded, not sure what to say.
The woman gave her another smile while continuing to stare.
“You seem lost. Are you?”
Zora hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I was, but not anymore.”
The woman nodded as her dreadlocks bounced in agreement.
“Nature has a way of healing us. It reminds us we are all connected and part of something bigger than ourselves.”
Zora looked at her, feeling the air vibrate around them.
“Realizing this reveals the world's wonder. Appreciating small things adds meaning to life's beauty.”
Zora nodded as she felt goosebumps all over her body. Her life made sense. It was magical.
As the woman walked away, Zora sat on the grass and closed her eyes, facing the setting sun as it slid below the horizon. As she took a deep breath, she felt the cool breeze on her face and the warming rays of the setting sun on her skin. She sensed she was where she belonged.
Zora was unaware the woman with the dreadlocks was still present, standing ten feet behind her, her dreadlocks floating free, her skin glowing, and her eyes shining. She also didn’t see a white owl glide down to perch on the woman’s left shoulder as a deer joined her, nudging her right hand so she could rest it on its head. She didn’t see the woman extend her left arm as if trying to touch her.
“Zora,” she called.
Zora opened her eyes, stood up, and turned around. It surprised her to see the woman with dreadlocks, an owl, and a deer.
The woman smiled at her.
“It’s time to come home, Zora. The universe has been waiting for you.”
Zora felt a rush of emotions. Here was her long-awaited moment. With a smile, she held the woman’s hand, and they followed the owl and deer into the forest.
The sun had set, and a nail tip of a moon hanging in a sea of stars lit their way. When they stopped, they stood before a large tree with roots stretching forever.
The woman touched the tree, and a door appeared. Her nod prompted Zora to step through the door into a world of endless possibilities.
Author’s Note
This story first appeared on the Written Tales website. The current version is slightly different from that version.
Athena, the goddess of wisdom and reason in ancient Greek mythology, is often depicted with an owl, symbolizing freedom and democracy throughout the Western world.
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so beautiful....I believe the connection with nature is where peace and calmness is...so important. I'm devouring Braiding Sweetgrass and this story is really perfect for me right now. thank you so much
Beautifully mystical