Page 68 - North Star Magazine 2022

You have the ability to love again.”
As the river concluded its speech, Beeatrisa felt even more empowered to continue her journey. She felt courageous and leapt over the rocks like the female warriors she read about in her books. When she reached the end of the river bed, Beeatrisa felt empowered. She ran until she came to the edge of the forest.
Beeatrisa was faced with large pines, which lined the end of the forest and acted as gates that allowed no person to enter or exit the forest. The young girl could see the walls of the kingdom in the distance, but she could not see what was inside. A large field of wildflowers bridged the gap between the large pines and the gates to the kingdom. Beeatrisa could see herself running through the flowers happily.
“Who goes there?” yelled the tallest pine facing the entrance, stopping the girl from reaching the end of her journey.
“My name is Beeatrisa,” said the young girl. “I have come to the end of my journey through the deep woods to enter the kingdom and start my life anew. I want to find love and create a future for myself.”
“I see,” said the gollum-like pine. “Use the strength that the wind has gifted you, and love yourself and others as the river has instructed. You’ve already learned the gift that I am to bestow upon you.”
“What is that gift?” Beeatrisa asked in a confused tone. “I want to become as tall as you, as wise as you, but I’m scared of the kingdom. I never thought about my fears until I laid my eyes on the gigantic gates. I don’t know if I’m ready to leave the forest. It’s my home and my grandmother’s spirit is still here. I’m scared I may never return.”
“The first step of growing is leaving what makes you comfortable,” the pine stated. “My gift to you is growth; one must grow in order to learn in the future. Growth comes out of loss.”
Beeatrisa took a step back and started to remember the life she had protected within the walls of the cottage. Although she gained the confidence and capability to move on with her journey toward the kingdom, she thought of her grandmother more and more. With some of the paintings she carried in her pack,