The Red Leaf Sunset: Hope Awakened

By 'S'

As we prepare to launch an international art project ‘One Red Leaf at a Time’, The Red Leaf Creative Collaborative will be sharing some red leaf interpretations inspired by The Red Tree and M.E. This beautifully reflective piece is shared by ‘S’, a carer for her son with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.).

‘Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn’ Ralph Waldro

I had the honour of witnessing this wonderful sunset on a chilly January afternoon. In contrast, as Mother Nature was closing her vibrant curtains to signify the end of another day, my son with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) was just starting his, in his dark room, gently awakening from sleep reversal. Sleep reversal is just one of his myriad of debilitating symptoms of M.E.

As I refocused to capture the intricate pattern of winter branches silhouetted against the beautiful glowing sunset, my thoughts were transported to The Red Tree and M.E. The image resembled an inverted red leaf. The dark branches: the veins of the leaf; the glowing red sunset: the main body of the leaf. My mind returned to those with M.E. and their families whose lives are inverted, turned upside down, disarranged.

I zoomed in further to capture the intricate pattern created by the branches, the contrast between the silhouettes of the branches and the sunset hues. I considered those with M.E., whose lives become smaller and isolated as friendships, independence, hopes and dreams slowly slip away…

At home, I digitally blanked out the background, exposing just the beauty of the red leaf interpretation. This represents people like my son with M.E., whose symptoms severely limit their daily living activities, having to blank out many areas of their lives in order to simply survive.

For me, the image portrays fragility, strength and beauty.

A photograph is, of course, only a two dimensional representation of a multidimensional subject at a moment in time. Similar to the ‘snapshots’ people often glimpse of those with M.E. which do not convey the true extent of suffering.

As I bathed in the warmth of the sunset colours, I felt uplifted and inspired, recognising the beautiful strength of my son whose achievements are extraordinary within his circumstances. We celebrate the smallest improvements and find joy in the everyday things that others may take for granted.

Like the sunset, these moments are precious, almost healing. I had witnessed the beauty of nature, the wonder of the universe, bringing reassurance, gratitude and hope for the future. Every sunset is followed by a new tomorrow with all its opportunities.