The Fork in The Road

A fork in the road came to view slowly, a few fronds in the middle of the road grew taller and thicker. The sunset sank from the sky, peeking through the treeline in the deepest shades of pink like that of the hibiscus back home. Reflecting on a memory, I felt joy from a distance, if not for a moment.

-Having finished up a day on the hot beach, I made my way past rows of houses. My flipflops flapped against my heels as I walked beside the road throwing sediment up my legs as they caught every loose patch of sand around the grass. I knew what Grandma's house looked like. I would know it when I saw it. All I had to do was find it. Looking left and right, I passed many a sunglassed flamingo, sun, and crab, many wicker chairs, welcome mats, and pun-clad flags- and FLOWERS! Grandma loved flowers, so I picked some. Finally I caught sight of the familiar house surrounded by hibiscus bushes with large deep pink flowers. I needed to find trimmers. There were always some in the shed beside the house. I made a pit stop there and then dismembered the bushes. I liked to pick the lightest flowers. They didn't quite fit the look of Grandma's house. I burst my way through the door, ran up the creaky steps, announced my presence, and proudly presented my findings high in the air for everyone to see.-

I caught myself smiling; that felt wrong. I looked down in mourning the loss of that joy. The road at my feet was nothing more than dirt and gravel. I noticed my gait, left, right, left, right. The weight of the food in my backpack grew heavy, pulling me down as I walked. My heart sank and my breath shallowed as if I'd been holding my breath. Had I been breathing? Inhale 1…2…3… Exhale 1…2…3…

Why am I smiling? What's wrong with me? Those days are long gone and she is gone. *Heavy shallow breathing* I'm so tired. I couldn't sleep last night. I didn't eat last night. I've got to save the food I have. Should I eat?

I tried to picture what life would be like on the other side of those woods. I had no idea, really, if I was making the right choice. I could turn around. I knew I didn't want to do that though. Behind me was pain, death, deformity, and suffering. I could not stand it any more.

There was no where to look but ahead.