I love my bed.

As soon as I pull the blanket over myself, the bed slowly begins to float.

A soft silver energy field closes around us.

The air becomes cooler.

Sometimes it smells like fruit.

Sometimes like herbs.

Tonight it smells like a forest after rain.

My mum says the scents help people sleep.

I think they are wonderful.

Before bedtime, Mum promised that we could watch one episode of Once Upon a Time.

It is my favourite nature series.

The animals tell their own stories.

Mum presses a button.

"Martina and I would like to watch the episode about Sabine the Woodpecker."

A glowing window appears in front of us.

The film begins.

At first I only hear a sound.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

It sounds funny.

The picture moves through a forest.

Tall trees rise into the sky.

Sunlight shines through the leaves.

Then I see her.

A green woodpecker sitting on a tree trunk.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

The bird looks directly at us.

"Hello," she says.

"My name is Sabine the Woodpecker, and this is my forest."

My eyes become wide.

Sabine flies through the trees.

The camera follows her.

She shows us old trees.

Young trees.

Moss.

Mushrooms.

And insects hidden beneath the bark.

"This is where I find my food," she explains.

Sabine taps on a dead tree.

A moment later she pulls out a fat grub.

"Breakfast."

I laugh.

Mum laughs too.

Sabine continues her journey.

She shows us where she sleeps.

She shows us a hollow tree where she keeps her nest.

She shows us birds, insects and animals who share the forest with her.

The whole forest seems alive.

Not like separate plants and animals.

More like one giant family.

It feels as if Sabine belongs to the forest.

And the forest belongs to Sabine.

The episode lasts only ten minutes.

But it feels much shorter.

Then the screen slowly disappears.

For a moment neither Mum nor I say anything.

I breathe deeply.

The scent of the forest is still floating through our little energy bubble.

"Mum?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I think I can smell Sabine's forest."

Mum smiles.

"I think so too."

"It feels nice."

"It does."

I think about Sabine.

About the trees.

About the old wood full of insects.

Then I have an idea.

"Mum?"

"Yes?"

"Can we visit Sabine this weekend?"

Mum laughs softly.

"I don't know if we will find Sabine herself."

"Oh."

"But on Sunday we are going to the Natural History Museum."

My eyes light up.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Maybe we will find Sabine's friends there."

I smile.

That sounds wonderful.

Mum kisses my forehead.

"Good night, Martina."

"Good night, Mum."

The lights slowly dim.

The forest scent remains.

Somewhere above me the silver energy field shimmers softly.

I close my eyes.

I think about Sabine.

I think about her forest.

And I think about the sound of her beak tapping against the tree.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

I am almost asleep when I hear it one last time in my imagination.

Tonight I am sure I will dream of forests.

And perhaps of a green woodpecker named Sabine.