the forest is made of dead, rotting trees a pale, half moon hangs covered in thick clouds the undergrowth creaks under your quick steps your naked body, scratched and bruised your eyes wide open, the breath condensing fast your heart racing, every shadow a threat a monster, a demon, a hidden fear you run from tree to tree, and there’s just no end to it

you can’t remember who was wrong you just can’t remember who started it you can’t remember where you lost your innocence if it was that stone you threw that lie you told that cheek you didn’t turn

your feet finally touch a soft spot of grass and you raise your head, to the gorgeous woods in front of you you allow yourself to slow down your breath smooths itself out while you just walk, in between the beautiful trees

maybe you won’t have to run forever maybe you’ll be able to finally rest

but it’s cold, it’s dark, it starts to snow and as the snowflakes touch ground you start to feel warm something is not right

your heart starts pounding again you realize you’ve been watching ashes falling down from the sky this whole time

you see smoke rising from behind the trees and all around you, the forest is burning a red ember reflected in your wide stare

flames scorch your arms your eyes feel dryer than ever the heat is unbearable, and you fall to your knees

and as soon as you think you are done for you feel something running down your cheek a long-lost sensation you thought, it could be a tear that you were finally, finally going to cry

but it was just rain it was just the forest, starting to rot again it was just the monsters, the demons, the fears back to haunting you