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A Sweet Reprieve

Sarah McNeill

The sun was shining, but my day felt covered in darkness.

Months spent working through a global pandemic in a high-risk environment had finally taken its toll. I was depleted and empty inside.

There was only one thing left to do.

Be in nature.

I sat in the sunshine in my backyard and felt the warm rays on my skin, trying to pretend that time didn’t exist, and I could stay in this moment forever.

Then a ladybird appeared and settled herself onto the page of my book. So tiny and perfect. I was lost in the moment as I gazed at her intricate beauty.

And then she was gone.

As I lifted my head to watch her fly away, I noticed a large blossom tree, its branches trailing over the fence. I stared in wonder at the rich, deep pink of the blossom flowers and I realised that there is beauty everywhere, even on the darkest of days.

In those few brief moments, I felt the joy that comes from being at one with nature, and the darkness I felt disappeared.

And I thank the ladybird for that temporary, but sweet, reprieve.