Nature from the Inside

Please note that Summer is now in prison. She writes from there.

Nature from the Inside
by Summer Jaynes

I'm outside. It's such a great day, a warm breeze, sun, heating my face. I look up at the bright blue sky. There are big fluffy white clouds floating but they look so soft it's like I could reach up and touch them. They seem so close but so far at the same time. I close my eyes, take a deep breath. I can smell spring flowers. Somewhere out there I smell fresh dirt, like a tractor close by is plowing the fields. I open my eyes and look around. The grass is so green. I take my shoes off so my bare feet can feel the grass tickling my toes. It feels so nice that for a minute I forget.

I forget everything that's going on around me.
I forget my problems, my worries.
I forget where I am.

I look back up at the sky and see a single cloud floating by all by itself. I think, "It's me," floating through life by myself. When will I join the rest of the clouds, when will we flow together?

All of a sudden I hear my name: "#967695" I look up and see an officer. I come back and realize where I'm at. The officers says, "Put your shoes back on." I do. I look around and see the razor sharp barbwire fences and all the other women around me with depressing looks on their face. I realize I'm back in prison, but just for a minute--I was at peace. I was free.