Fredrick yawned as his eyes gradually flittered open, allowing him to focus on the room around him. A calm wallpaper covered the walls, with green patterns and swirls. A lovely racing-green sofa waited patiently for someone to enjoy the comfort it provided to everyone who sat on it. Picture frames hung from the walls, each one a painting of places he’d been before, however, the most beautiful scene was the one he could see from his window. The inside of the van was small, but cosy. It felt like home.

He yawned once more, stretched, and reluctantly heaved himself out of bed. It was Saturday, so naturally he’d had a huge lie-in. Still sleepy, Frederick stumbled over to the window and stared out of it, as he did every morning without fail. The scene before him represented the utter beauty of the forest, an endless woodland stretching across the terrain. Amongst the dark green trees lay a shimmering lake, its blue surface reflecting the sun’s light like a pearl. Frederick breathed a sigh of satisfaction and felt a sense of belonging with the forest; it was the most beautiful thing in the world and also his best friend, for it was always there to comfort him even in his darkest times.

The morning routine calling to him once again. He promptly boiled the kettle and slotted some bread into the toaster and slumped over the kitchen surface until he heard a ‘PING’ and was notified that the toast was done. Excited for his delicious Saturday breakfast, the tired man put the toast on a plate, layered a generous amount of peanut butter and honey atop it, and made himself a cup of tea. He made sure to let the teabag properly bleed into the hot, milky water before he tossed it into the bin. (He liked his tea strong.) With a grin, he tucked into the food.

After he’d finished his meal, Frederick walked over to the beckoning green sofa and relaxed into the plump and comfy couch. He let himself relax after the filling food he’d just eaten, and picked up the book on the small table near to him. He read for about an hour, enjoying every word of fine literature on every page. For a while, it was just him and his book. The clock ticked, the pages turned quietly, and the breezed hummed from behind the window. It was only when a magpie squawked outside that he was awoken from his reading trance. He brought his wrist up to his face and checked the time on his watch. 12 o'clock! Goodness me, time really does fly by sometimes! Frederick thought.

Setting his mind on a new task, Frederick picked up his paint, canvas, and paintbrushes. He unlocked the door and stepped outside.

He was greeted by the cool breeze that snaked through the woods, and his eyes were met with the green of the pine trees. After setting up his outdoor chair, he plonked himself down and began to paint the scene ahead of him, over the edge of the cliff. This was exactly why he quit his job and started living in his large van in the woods. It was for the peace. The peace that the forest offered. Frederick stared at all of the trees, luscious and green, like a green blanket covering the land. The lake, blue and shining. The streams, running through the dents in the terrain in a way that burbled secrets to the rocks that were beside it. The creatures, living freely in the forest. In this place, life just felt more, special…