By Katherine LaFountain
A fun and exciting tale about a young boys journey through grief and loneliness by finding solace in nature and the companionship it offers him.
After his father suddenly passes away, young Paul feels more alone than ever.
While the other kids in his small town have both parents and families that feel whole, Paul only has his mother, who’s often too busy to talk or play. Paul doesn’t quite fit in, and his world feels quiet and more lonely. One day, seeking a break from the silence, Paul starts walking into the woods behind his house.
At first, it feels strange, and he’s not sure what he’s looking for, but soon, he notices something he hadn’t before. The trees seem to whisper, the river feels like a friend, and even the birds seem to know when he needs to hear their song. Slowly, Paul starts to feel a little less alone, like nature is listening to him in a way no one else can.
The more time Paul spends outside, the more he finds comfort in the simple things, like how the wind moves through the leaves, how the sun shines through the clouds, how the river flows, no matter what. It doesn’t replace his dad, or give him the perfect typical family, but it helps him hold onto the good memories and find peace in the quiet moments.
Paul may not have the typical family like the other kids, but as he grows closer to the world around him, he begins to understand that even without having a father and siblings like a normal child, he’s still connected to something bigger. In the stillness of the woods, he discovers that he doesn’t have to be “like everyone else” to feel whole again. Nature becomes his friend, and over time, helps him heal in ways he never expected.
P is…
- 52 years old
- Male
- White
- Straight
- Wealthy
- Roman Catholic