Casey Pepin

The Owl of Alabaster Lake

The argent light of the moon's reflection glistened softly in the still waters of Lake Alabaster. Vincent navigated labyrinthine corridors of thought, lost, the walls of his own mind closing in on him. Suffocating him as surely as drowning in the serene waters before him. He had escaped to the great outdoors to distance himself from the dullness and doldrums of what had gradually become a dismal existence. He took a deep breath of crisp winter air, enjoying the idyllic beauty surrounding him. Wondrous as it was, it did little to ease the existential dread that so haunted him. The light dimmed and winked out as clouds enshrouded the moonlit bitter cold winter night in darkness. He struck flint to steel. The spark ignited kindling and the campfire he'd prepared came to life. Losing himself in the dancing flames his consciousness unexpectedly gave way to restless sleep.