Gray

Everything was so gray. The crunch of dead grass under my feet barely registered. My eyelids blinked shut so slowly, I half expected to not open them again. The living grass reached up to trip me. My hands curled slightly in my pocket, the gloves doing nothing to stop the cold. The leaves on the light pink trees on the edge of the meadow flew off while the wind laughed. A deer appeared on the edge of the trees. The frost in the air nipped at my exposed face. I just kept walking.

Time

What time was it when I left? I didn't know. There wasn't a sun here. But how was it so bright? A wolf peeked its head out of the grass. I giggled slightly. My hand fell out of my coat, sliding across the tall grass. I bent down to pick up a rock, only for my hand to miss the rock. I just kept walking.

Laughter

All along the little path, all along the line. Never knowing where we go, but on we go nevertheless! Singing songs in my head was keeping me sane. There was laughter echoing all around, in the valley of the pink woods and meadow. I think it was mine. The coyotes in their dens, yelping and yipping, adding to the song. I just kept walking.

Jackalopes

I wasn't hungry, but the jackalopes were. Everywhere you looked, five of them munching on sprouts of grass. They seemed content. No looking behind, no use, but from looking at the jackalopes, I could see little flowers flowering in my steps. I just kept walking.

Ponds

It had been a long time. Ponds were appearing beside me. Frogs made their sounds as I walked, A moose walked across the meadow, into the woods. A bobcat chased a rabbit. I just kept walking.

You have to stop. Please. We miss you.

Horses

The wild horses were beautiful. They had endlessly long manes and tails, all gray but beautiful. But I couldn't stop. A colt ran up to me, seemingly knowing. It nodded at me, before jumping and sprinting off. I giggled. And I just kept walking.

Pieces

It was as if everything lost ended up here. There were socks without their partner, broken toys, ripped stuffed animals, pencils, all piled into mounds blocking out the pink trees. A puzzle box tumbled off, spilling open. Leaving pieces scattered along my path. I jumped over them. I just kept walking.

Walk

And walking.

Walk

And walking.

Walk

And walking.

Walk

And walking.

Wall

My forehead bumped into something. I had grown tired looking at the passing woods. So I instead had looked at my feet. I tilted my head, staring up at a cliff looking down at me. I had to keep walking. So I continued. I climbed.

Climb

I never liked climbing before. It was just too hard. But I didn't have a choice. I had to go forwards. I just had to keep climbing.

Endless

It seemed to go on forever. Endless. Up, and up, and up, and up. How long have I been here? It didn't matter. Just keep going. Don't stop. Keep climbing.

Why

Why was this happening? It didn't matter. Go. Climb. Keep going. Or this place will die. Keep climbing.

Walk

The top appeared. Walk. And walk. And walk. And walk. And walk. And walk. And walk. KEEP GOING-

Please. Wake up.

Unbearable

It had been so long. Everything was gray again. I needed to stop, stop the torture. So I turned back. Turned back, didn't look. Followed the flowering plants popping out of my footsteps.

Free

I opened my eyes. I wasn't in my meadow. I wasn't walking. I felt... without a purpose. Empty. Alone. Tired. I looked around. And I smiled.

{617 words}