Vista Helen Galioto

It’s so easy to feel trapped. When I spend long stretches of time in my house, in my room, in my mind, my thoughts can overwhelm me. I come to believe that everything is that of which I think and that with which I interact. This solipsistic feeling can consequently cause my problems to magnify. I need some kind of escape to get out of this rut I have dug for myself. So, I venture outside and take a walk to the park near my house. Once I get there, I walk along a cement path as rollerbladers and dog walkers pass me by, until I reach an opening on the side of the path. I see in the distance dark trees that border a sunlit vista, and it beckons me. I follow a woodsy trail that opens into a vast meadow. Here is where I find myself in an oasis of unfettered nature tucked inside suburbia. Massive oaks soar vertically and kiss the empty, expansive blue sky. Just below them, the ground is totally saturated with flora in rich greens, earthy browns, and sweet pinks, with tiny white daisies acting as speckled adornments to the entire scenery. It is oh-so-silent, save the occasional sound of leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.

I like to pretend that this space is completely unknown to everyone else, and therefore entirely belonging to...