{Chapter 5}

All around me the world was sleeping. The constant flow of the water in the fountain, and the distant sounds of the waves were the only sounds to reach the sleeping village, and the only sounds that accompanied me while I sat in wonder at everything around me.

It was beautiful how people here could live in harmony with nature, how they could live their lives, and develop their homes without disturbing the wildlife, and the worlds natural beauty. So unlike the city, so unlike anything I had ever known before. Living here was paradise for me. I had never known anywhere like this apart from in fairytales. It reminded me a little of Snow White, the people trusted the animals, and the animals trusted the people - of course not to the extent of helping out with the housework, but they trusted them enough to live in peace with them, even venturing out into civilisation.

I shifted my position, and realised with the stiffness that followed, that I hadn't moved since I had arrived there, but for the subconcious movements of my fingers in the water. With a start I realised that if I was that stiff, I must have sat there for some time. The sun was high in the sky now, and I knew that soon the birds would sing, like an opening for the rest of the world to wake up.

With a sigh I stood to leave. I couldn't leave it much longer, and mum was an early riser so I wouldn't have long to get back either. I was dreading going back, because although it was light out here, it would still be dark under the trees. It would always be darker there, the suns rays could hardly penetrate through the branches of so many trees. I started on my journey back with relativley high spirits. I guess I have a phobia of dark places, like I'm afraid of the dark but not quite - it all depends on where the darkness is. But I knew I would have to get used to this path soon, because that was my only route to school, to the shops, to any possible friends I might aquire while living in the cottage.