Somewhere down the hole we fell into a land of stolen memories. Every name hung on a wall etched in wood with a small token of their being. We were lost and trapped.

Before the fall, I remember friends entertaining under a large pavilion. Playing some sort of game which only exists in this world.

Would anyone believe the journey I went on like it was just a dream? No one did. I exclaimed it was real.

I searched for the companion I found down in that hole. Around a familiar neighborhood, I found her in a large windowed house. She didn’t want to see me, but eventually gave in.

I faded from black and felt the warmth of the pillow beneath my face.

Laying still, I tried to remember. Minutes passed and the memory faded. If only it was a world that could continue on at will.

I saw the familiar roads and landmarks of my past. Memories flooded my head and escaped in a sigh. I leaned against the tree and crossed my arms. The air was getting cooler. I filled my lungs with the cool but slightly damp air analyzing every smell. Pausing before I exhaled, I looked at the sun. The air was full of my breath and quickly disappeared.

Vibrant colors began to paint the sky when the sun hid behind the clouds just about the horizon. Thy symphony of light played across the landscape as electricity flooded throughout the town. Headlights were wandering about as if in a maze. The day was beginning to tie together just to unravel in the morning.

Winter was beginning to show it’s face. My jacket wasn’t thick enough for the front coming in. It was time to leave. The hike down wasn’t long. When I reached my car, I hopped in and blasted the heater. Resuming the heater to sub-furnace temps, I drove off away from the city, into the hills, and towards the twilight of another day.

Everything is white and I let out sigh.

–

I didn’t realize a rushing stream a few feet deep could sweep me off my feet. I was hiking a mountain trail through thick green wood stepping over freshly fallen pine needles. A few miles in, I came upon a small stream leading away from a glorious waterfall. The air was slightly cooler near the waters and filled with the sound of turbulent war between liquids and solids. It wasn’t as pleasing as I had hoped. Just further ahead was my destination, a small overlook that broke through the impenetrable forest.

Fish eased by as I peered into the crystal flow. The creek bed felt closer to me than it was. I stepped forward to the edge. Twisting, I stepped with my right foot past the bank and into the bitter water. Just as I reached the bottom, the weak rooted grass crumbled beneath my left foot and into the water. My arms were reaching to the clouds hoping grasp their billowy faces when my face was washed with the waters surface.

Everything was black and I held my breath.

–

I looked over to my rescuer and asked, “How did you know?”

“I know myself.” She replied staring at me with eyes I could feel in my soul.