Something That I Could Never Forget

I found myself wandering around the forest one night, I heard something calling out to me. The further I went in, the louder the voice rang on my ear.

"What are you?", I called out, but no one replied. I kept walking to the path it led me to,  an hour had probably passed when the noise suddenly disappeared. I looked up only to realize that I  have wandered too far.

There stood before me a mighty oak tree, I stared at it for a while only to snap back to reality when the voice came back.

The voice was coming from the tree.

No.

I walked around the tree and found the source of the voice. It was a little girl, hugging her knees while sobbing. 

"Little girl, what's the matter?"

She didn't respond.

I carefully placed my hand on her head, gently stroking it. I waited till she calmed down.

"Have you ever wanted to disappear completely?" she asked.

I hesitated before answering her sudden question.

"Yes. Truthfully I have considered that but as I grew up I realized living is better than just disappearing into thin air"

"Even if you cry all day? Even if you're unhappy?"

"Yes"

"Why?"

"Back when I was at your age, I also wished to disappear but that only made my life miserable, more than it already was"

"Then wouldn't it be better to let it all go? To sleep peacefully?"

"Yes that would be wonderful"

"Then-"

"But you wouldn't be able to enjoy that peace when you're gone, right?"

"But I'm tired"

I pulled her in for a hug.

"Then I'll share your burden, rely on me. If you're drowning, I'll be there to lift you up on my shoulders. You got a life ahead of you, don't make the same mistakes that I did"

I tightened my hug on her, making sure she didn't notice the tears that started to fall down.

She patted my back and when I stopped trembling she got up.

"Thank you, I'll remember this"

I finally saw her face that time, it was something that I could never forget. She looked just like how I remember her, a warm smile that was yet to be tainted.

"I didn't know this is how my wish would be granted. Take care, make sure to change the future for you, for us", those were my final words before I vanished.