High Point

I haven’t been in such a natural environment for quite a long time, especially out of the summer holidays season. I was greeted by fields and fields of grass, massive trees toppling over us. High point is situated right within this unrestrained place of nature. No one was around. No physical being around us, just us. Even while walking through the muddy ground, up the hill, down the hill, only cars drove by us, kindly letting us pass with a wave. The shockingly beautiful peace has entered my body. I felt like I was supported by those trees and birds roaming up in the sky above us. I felt rather sleepy most of the time. The mix of pure air and quiet gave me permission to just relax and do my best to be in the moment. My anxiety was non-existent, I felt truly calm. I knew this place had left a mark on me once we got in a car on the way back. I was completely composed right up to the point we drove out onto a highway. The busyness of cars, the limited space around us and the removal of natural space have all caused my body to close up, to feel anxious again. High point is an escape. A beautiful utopian environment, where the inspiration and love flourish unrestrainedly.

Unrestrained. I soaked up the openness of the countryside without a doubt. Although not many people were around, the ones we’ve met have been incredibly kind. They didn’t necessarily say anything that would make you believe they have good intentions in mind, it was something about their aura. The atmosphere they carried with them blended in with the peacefulness of the natural area they found themselves in.

We have allowed ourselves to be playful at High Point. Spent our time playing board games, prioritising movement and quality time with one another. Nothing was on our minds except the need to feel each other’s presence and share the joy of our relationship. The house itself sparked joy. The large windows let the natural light inside the entire time - it felt as if we were outside the whole time. There was not a point in a day when you felt disconnected from nature; this interconnection of living seemed surreal. With the addition of music surrounding us through the speakers in each of the rooms, it felt like a dream-like present. All the laughter, the warmth, the cosiness and the beauty of the moment itself has engraved itself into my mind and soul - it will always be a special place for me to go back to in my head.

‘Forests’. They can’t be forgotten. While on our lengthy, fresh walk, we have encountered lots of trees that I would like to call a forest. In the midst of farm houses, there they were, mysteriously inviting us with their own secrets built up over the years. On our right, there were a few chickens on a small football pitch, nibbling on the grass inside the goal. As we moved closer to the forest, we noticed three sheep standing cluelessly on a private piece of land. They were the chubbiest, fluffiest sheep I have ever seen in my life. They also didn’t seem like the friendliest animals. They looked rather scared of us and as if they were ready to protect themselves by suggesting that we leave through their stumps on the ground. However, as we began staring back at them and slowly stepping closer towards them, they grew very intrigued by us. Assuming they have seen a human being before due to the most likely scenario of them belonging to a local farmer, I didn’t think they would find us unpleasant. They seemed to get used to us being there the longer we stayed and the more attention we paid them. Once we'd had enough of the staring contest, we continued our walk. As I glanced to the left of the sheep, I saw an old wooden swing on a bright blue string. Immediately being drawn to it, I rushed towards it and attempted to sit on top of it. With a failed attempt, a large amount of laughter and physical help from my other half, I managed to get off it and get on top of it again. This time, I quickly felt the happiness and freedom of a child, as I swung towards an empty, open space, I felt liberated, like nothing else mattered in this moment. I didn’t have any tasks to complete, I didn't have to be anywhere. Time restraint did not exist. It was me, my soulmate and the countryside.

I think time often feels very restrictive to me. Time orders me to do things and to do them quickly as otherwise I will fail. At High Point time felt slow. Sometimes people regard the slow flow of time as a negative thing. As something that means you’re dreading whatever it is that you're doing, you’re not enjoying it. In this case, I bathed in the slowness of time, I wanted that moment to last forever. I wanted to wake up next to my love in a perfect temperature room, underneath thick covers everyday of my life. I desired to have time to do everything and anything we wanted at the time. I craved the ‘alone time’ that was private to the two of us, even if it meant we were just lying there in silence. Silence between us did not make me feel uncomfortable at all, in fact, I felt comfort that I could be in silence around him. Although High Point was pretty spacious, it wrapped around us like a tender hug, forming a safe space for honest experiences.