My feet are carrying me ahead – through the dense forest, down the hill.
Trees squeezing together tightly to keep me from moving, to keep me still.
I know the night is almost over but the branches refuse to let in the sun –
As long as they convince me that the darkness endures, I believe I am the only one.
There is a gleam in the distance, it spins like a disco ball, it blurs my vision.
My boots sink into the moss as I trip over the shrubs trying to escape this gimmick.
But there is nowhere to go, only this evergreen vault crushing my ribs.
I am crawling and panting, the thought of stopping seems sweeter than figs.
No, there must be a path that leads to the other side, there must be some hope.
The woods chuckle at my silliness as a breeze pushes me on a downward slope.
My nails are bloody, fingers so raw they burn, knuckles whiter than snow.
The tentacles of another violent forest creature drag me towards the neon glow.
I stab with all my anger, I bite and snarl until it drops me in the grass.
“Keep your head down,” I repeat to myself, managing to ignore the hourglass.
With the force of a hurricane I grab my hunting knife and hurry away,
Through leaves, cones and pine needles my legs fight the desire to stay.
Even through my frantic breathing I hear the black abyss collapsing behind me.
I stumble closer to the real light, it is darting towards me, lukewarm and shiny.
The forests fail to claim my body yet another time, but they will return.
One day I might gather the courage to let all the twigs and roots burn –
But not today. If I only sprint faster,
I can take a step closer to the point of no return.
-JW
The Daily Writing of Jackie Wright 