Chasing Reflections
A woman’s journey from mystery to magic I Entry Two
This is the second installment in the series. You can find part one linked below.
Standing over my wracked boat, half of which is still submerged in water, I run my expectant eyes over the seashore.
The island appears smaller than my home, yet much greener. It’s hard to see what lies beyond foliage so dense.
I untether the rope and watch the waves claim what’s left of the boat, sending it on its final journey. And with that, I turn around to walk toward mine.
As I reach the brim of the forest, my heart starts to pound in my chest. From where I stand, all I feel is the piercing dampness warning me to reconsider my next step.
Instinctively, my hand finds its way to my heart —
If two years alone on an undiscovered island have taught me anything, it’s that the only way is always through.
“We have to do this,” I whisper to myself.
“We can’t stop now. Not when we’ve come so far.”
With a sigh, I step into the woods and the unknown.
Cautiously making my way through the forest, I’m greeted by a thick blanket of mist that spreads across the woods, engulfing everything in its path. The deeper I explore, the lighter my steps feel, my frame seemingly floating among the majestic trees as I witness the day turn into night, with only fireflies to light my way.
An eerie silence hangs in the air, like an unheard distant melody echoing in the farthest corners.
I tilt my head, straining to listen closely — “hmmm.. umm.. hmmm.”
“umm..hmmm…”
Beneath my feet, the ground has given way to a muddy swamp, enveloping the forest in an unforgiving coldness.
Wrapped in the chilly darkness, it’s hard to tell day from night.
My feet ache inside these wet shoes, and I can barely keep my eyes open.
I’m tired, and my throat burns for water.
Panic begins to set in as I fear I may never find my way out of this dark and wet maze.
Frantically, with every ounce of strength left in me, I pull through the herbage. With desperation that has grown almost painful, I drag my lifeless feet through the sticky mud.
“A few more steps,”
“Just a few,” I prod myself mentally, pushing my exhausted body further.
“hmmm.. umm.. hmm.”
“One more step.”
“Another.”
And finally, I step into the sunlight.
The forest opens into a clearing before me: a vast stretch of grassland spreading as far as I can see, a hillock strangely settled in the middle and atop it — an old wooden cabin.
Gawking at the startling sight, I struggle to make sense of it all when everything starts to spin around me.
Something turns inside my stomach, and suddenly-
Everything goes black…
.
.
The journey continues in the third and final installment….
