The walk began with a need. She wanted to escape, and getting lost in deep forest was all she could imagine to get the job done. Dressed in an outfit that made her feel pretty, she headed out across the gravel parking lot. One other vehicle in the area was not enough to deter her from her pursuit. Most others would have cautioned her not to go alone. Call someone to let them know where she was headed. It was not until an hour into the trek that any thought of misdemeaning hikers crossed her mind.
She was not ordinarily one to disappear on a whim, though thoughts had frequently crossed her mind. Today was one of those. Already she had confessed to the need to disappear. Too many people knew and as such, it would not be disappearing, really. A long hike was a temporary stand in for the need to climb a mountain. Emotions were on overload. Men were not the answer though she hoped they could offer some sort of relief or at a minimum a reprieve from her daily dull moments of existence.
The long drive to the lot appeased her only a small amount. Along the way, she reflected on her desires to visit this location, become closer to all it had to offer. Answers were not in the mix. Inscrutable years with an imbecile render her recent decades incomprehensible. She believed somehow that returning to this site would strike a balance and answer a question as to the meaning behind his stupidity and to the meaning of why he insisted upon ignorance.
She walked at the fastest pace she had ever applied in a wooded area. Anxiety paired with animosity like red wine to a thick hearty steak. She was not feeling settled until an hour passed at that jog of a pace. One look at the map was discouraging but inspiring at the same time. Progress over the weeks, but more importantly progress over the years was witnessed that day. She took a breath, stretched and looked around before ascending the next hill of rocks, crags and roots. Slick surfaces made it tough to get a solid footing at the pace she held. Still, it did not slow her down.
Around a few small hills and over a few ridges, she paused near the river as it trickled through the forest. Meandering through all the breaks in stone, the river became a trickling stream; it became a meandering river with miniature waterfalls. The falls were just enough to shout a few notes of a peaceful rumbling babbling song. So, there she sat. Several minutes passed before reengaging in the walk. Her pace resumes quickly and her eyes perpetually scanned the area for any other people on the trail. One other car in the lot gave cause for suspecting visitors in the woods. Finally, they crossed and the other couple kept on in the opposite direction. A quick hello indicated the friendliness at hand.
The remainder of the walk was only stressful from a self-inflicted perspective. Her depression was getting worse. This fresh air excursion was meant to improve things. Instead, the peace and quiet allowed for all other thoughts to overpower her every breath. Tears flowed like the fast flowing stream rushing beside her. They bent over her cheeks with a warmth that may ordinarily be comforting. Today, on the other hand, her tears became more of a road map to all the unhappiness she had bottled inside.
Screams in the woods were those of an emotional foundation, not those of a physical pain. She ineffectively screamed to let someone in the area hear. She felt better, but still she needed a person by her side. The man she thought she loved was not anywhere to be found. He was inapproachable. He was only there as a convenience to his own life. She could not take it any more.
You never told her where you live, yet she showed at your doorstep. The doorbell rang and your child answered. Unaware of who was standing on your "Beware of..." doormat, that child of yours invited her in. Not to be mistaken for some vampire, you were not immune to her powers by invitation. There were no viable superstitions to hold her at bay.
