Do you ever get the impression the trees are watching? Not in a creepy serial killer way, but that they are gossiping about you? That’s how I’ve felt my whole life.
Everyone said I had an overactive imagination. There was nothing out there but leaves, bark, and pinecones.
After nearly thirty years, I started to believe them. At least until an ill-timed storm left me nearly dead in the wilderness. That’s when I met Gillia.
And you aren’t going to believe this, but she’s a dryad—protector of the forest. Yeah, I thought I was dreaming too.
Then she opened up a whole world to me and taught me that the trees aren’t only watching but listening. A little creepy, sure, but also a bit of a relief.
None of this was part of my plan, especially the part where I might be falling in love.
