The woods became a maze of trees, rocks, and semi-uprooted stumps that were covered in a lime green hue. It smelled more like springtime than summertime, I determined, inhaling the afternoon air. The scent of mushrooms filled my nostrils. Once, perhaps twice at the most, I lifted my head towards the green canopy and now-invisible sun and felt the light rain sprinkle and dance over my face: squinting eyes, hollow cheeks, partly open mouth. My extended tongue drew over my lips and gathered a few of the raindrops: chilled, refreshing, effervescent. Plinking and pelting noises continued to badger my ears as the raindrops ricocheted off David’s slicker. Nothing stopped me from following Code. Not the rain. Not my false bravery. Not even my foolishness. Nothing at all. Rather, we continued to wa
