Break Free

MAGICAL FOREST

After half an hour of collecting logs together with him, I decided to carry most of it back to breaking ground, hoping I could get away from him and the dark atmosphere he’s been exuding. Because believe me, the forest is already scary enough, and adding him to the picture makes it seem like I’m in a horror movie.

In desperation not to be around him, I hurriedly gathered one-third of the logs and placed them in the wheelbarrow. Unfortunately, I’ve overestimated my capacity. As I carried them, some of it fell on my foot so I was badly hurt. I screamed in pain, when all of a sudden, Nathan was already carrying me.

I don’t know when he got here but I’m confident that he’s cursing me in his mind and he could be plotting something evil. I just hope he won't suddenly throw me somewhere.

Ever since we got in the woods, he’s been really quiet, he barely said a word. And now that I got injured, he remains silent still; I wonder if he's even worried. The only thing I could hear was his fast heartbeat and his heavy breathing. He must be exhausted from all the work we’ve done.

“It's alright, you don’t have to carry me,” breaking the silence, I whispered softly. Then he started walking and moving around; probably looking for a place to put me down.

"Nathan, I'm fine. You may..." I was not able to finish my sentence when he interrupted. “Why didn’t you wait for me, why didn’t you call for my help?” he calmly asked, staring deep into my eyes. 

For a bossy person like him, I expected him to sound mad, irritated, or at least worried. But he seemed to be so composed like he’s been in a situation like this before. 

Others would panic seeing someone get hurt, but he’s so different, he just gently sat me on a huge rock and then fixed his eyes on my injured foot. “Are you badly hurt, would you mind if I check it?” he asked with a plain look on his face.

I honestly don’t know why I felt disappointed not seeing him worried; why I’m more concerned with his thoughts than the pain I’m currently in and why is it that just a minute ago, I wanted to be away from him but now, I want him by my side. 

“It’s ok if you don’t want to but I’m afraid if we don’t look at it now, it might get worse...” with a nonchalant voice, he slowly leaned forward. I can still see his lips moving but the words he is uttering seem to fade into bubbles, I can’t fully grasp them. And as I was about to ask him to repeat what he said, everything became blurred... including him.

It was dark and I had no idea what had happened. The next thing I knew, I'm already lying down on a huge rock. I'm not sure how long I have passed out but the moment I opened my eyes, I started looking for Nathan. The last time I remember was that he was leaning in front of me, saying something.

I tried standing up, using all the strength I had left to search for him. However, it is getting dark and I have no idea which way to go.

I initially didn’t want his attention; I can’t even bear to be around him even for just a second, but now, I am longing for it, I am longing for him.

I bowed down as I realized I'll never find him. And as I was about to lose hope, I heard footsteps walking towards me. I looked up and saw Nathan. He was holding a flashlight pointing at me. I couldn't clearly see his face because of the light but the dim vision of him has put my heart at ease; it's like I've seen my guardian angel.

"Finally, I found you! Where have you been? I've been worried sick." Despite my attempt to show my concern, he was just staring at me; the way he stared at me the first time we met.

Then without a word, he started running.

I chased after him and called out his name, but no matter how hard I called him, he wouldn't stop. He kept on running when finally after screaming the words ‘I need you’, he stopped and faced me. 

"What's the matter with you, why do you keep running away from me? You know I'm injured right?" I was running out of breath but that didn't stop me from asking him. He's been acting strange, I want to know what's wrong.

"I’m sorry but I’ll have to leave you."

"Why? What do you mean?"

"You can’t come with me."

Hearing his nonchalant tone again made my body shiver. And after saying those words, he disappeared.

I wanted to run after him but my weak body won’t allow me. My injured foot became so numb, I couldn’t feel a thing. I felt so desperate hence, I tried moving my foot, then another strange thing happened. I was slowly sinking, being swallowed by the earth.

“Why is this happening again? Why am I here again?”

I was screaming so loud, calling Nathan's name, when a great force suddenly pulled me down. As if I have fallen into a black hole. My heart was beating so fast, I started panicking.

I'm lonely, confused, and scared but after being dragged into the vacuum; I was awakened. 

It was all just a dream, a horrible dream.

As I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was Nathan's hand. He was holding mine close to his heart and I could feel his tears as they flowed through our clasped hands.

He was crying.

I tried to remove my hand; however, he held me tighter, closer to him.

"Thank goodness you’re finally awake," he uttered with relief. His eyes were red and his face looked so pale, far from the Nathan in my dreams... or even the Nathan before I had a dream.

He helped me sit up and then hugged me.

I didn't know how to react but as he whispered, "I was so worried," in my ears, I burst into tears. I couldn't explain it but I was so happy; he does care about me.

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I promise I'll never leave you again." I’ve been longing for those words the entire evening. And after hearing them, my heart raced. 

I’m no longer alone. 

My nightmare turned into a fairytale-like dream.

It was a magical night, in a magical forest.

What’s unreal felt real and what’s real felt unreal.