My Little Botanist

As they stepped under the canopy of trees, Olivia's gaze swept upward, and her breath caught in her throat.

The light filtered through the thick, overlapping leaves, painting the ground in patches of gold and green. She spun slowly, arms slightly out as if to embrace it all.

"In the city..." She began softly, her voice carrying a wistful tone. "I was surrounded by a forest of metal and concrete. Skyscrapers, cold, lifeless things, looming over me like they were mocking me."

"It always felt like no matter how hard I tried, I'd never reach the top. Just glass and steel pressing down like an endless cage."

She tilted her head back, watching as the wind rustled the branches above. The leaves whispered against one another, and she inhaled deeply.

"But this...this is different. The scent of wood in the air, the sound of the breeze moving through real leaves, it's so alive. I think this is the first time in years I've felt...free."