Winter came swiftly, bringing with it bitter winds that tore through the forest, ripping the last leaves of autumn from the trees. Behind the winds rolled in dark clouds, tumultuous, like the waves of the sea. They crashed through the sky, blocking out the light of the sun, and pouring down upon the ground an ocean of snow. With the advent of winter, all the life of summer and the decay of autumn that had once defined the forest were forgotten, replaced by a stunningly white, barren landscape. Winter had come and gone.

With the passing of winter, the days grew longer and warmer, and the ground began to thaw. Where once was snow, now thin streams spread out and watered the forest floor. The only remnant of the harsh winter that remained was a fine covering of frost that settled on the newly sprouted grass each morning. Beneath the frost, change was beginning to occur. A dormant bulb was beginning to awaken, sending forth its first green shoot. It worked its way through the warm soil, gently pushing aside a final layer of dirt, and emerging from the ground. The leaves of the plant unfurled, soaking in the warmth of the sun. Day turned to night and night turned to day.

Throughout the evening, the little plant had been tending to its bud, and with the dawn of day, the tightly coiled petals sheltered within opened in the soft morning light. The first flower to bloom in the forest since the winter was a tulip with petals as bright and cheery as the summer sun. Its arrival ushered in a warm welcome from the inhabitants of the forest. The cardinals and bluebirds filled the air with their joyful songs, and the bumblebees began to stir, readying themselves to visit the first flower to have bloomed and the many others that would soon follow suit. As the birds chirped and the bees buzzed, as the flowers bloomed and the trees grew, it was clear to all that spring had arrived.

Editor’s Note:  Genevieve Olsen is a new writer for Cape Fear Voices, we welcome her to the team.