Disclaimer: I don't own Skins.
A/N: Ok, I just randomly took a word from the dictionary as a challenge to myself and this is the result. The word: Etch.
She could feel the roughness of the bark against her fingers. Small ridged, fleshy pads ran across bumps and cracks, memorizing their feel; drinking in its spongy, dry texture. Shadows of dappled dark green rested upon her moving fingers, shading her pale face in a light-dark mask.
Her sky blue eyes bore intensely into the wood, glazing over as her thoughts spiraled around the inside of her skull like the growth rings embedded through the tree trunk's innards. Blonde locks fell about the front of her face from the small breeze hugging her body as it flowed past. A gentle shiver worked its way down her spin; the breeze having awoke her from her conscious. Brought back to reality, the hand caressing the trunk slipped away to the bag draped over her left shoulder.
Gazing into the patch-sewn bag, her hand riffled in desperation through its contents, suddenly pulling out, palm clasped tightly shut. Slowly opening the sealed hand, she revealed to herself a silver pocketknife nestled in her palm's middle.
Staring at the object, feeling its cool metal surface against her skin, she hurriedly shrugged her bag from her shoulder. The bag thumped to the ground, its plunking sound muffled by the lush green grass; she slide the sharp blade from its sheath causing it to catch the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Her body turned, facing the tree, left hand grasping the trunk, while the right gripped the handle of the knife. Taking a deep breath, she steadied her poised, shaking hand before beginning to assault the tree's trunk with the blade.
Silently, the tree screamed, weeping bark chips as the girl sliced away at its woody flesh. She pressed the sharp edge in deep, making thin, precise lines to outline the shape hovering in her mind's eye. After outlining one section, she would carefully lift up chunks of bark with the blade's tip, revealing the hardly tanned core surface beneath. She hacked away at the trunk diligently, almost feverously, finally coming to a sudden, complete stop.
Stepping back and pocketing the knife, she set her gaze to her carving, admiring her handiwork.
There, carved deeply, permanently into the tree was a heart with the words Naomi + Emily ensconced in its center.
She again lifted her hand, her fore finger slowly tracing the newly engraved letters. A smile curved her lips as she felt the marks against her skin.
For now, she knew this would be enough, just simply an etching. She couldn't admit her heart's secret yet, but the wood could hold her truth.