Lost

How did you get here?

White, it fell from the skies that blended with the horizons. The cold that had pierced through the many coats had numbed every muscle. You walked so far, for so long. Your legs no longer listened to the commands you willed for them. The snow had taken away your sense of direction, that’s fine no way out of this hell anyway. No way out, you’ve known that from the beginning. Why did you keep going? Why did you shove your way through the layers of white only to end up here? Under the shadow of a lone tree, the only disruption to the white abyss. How did you end up here, the tree, the snow. The owl.

Wait, the owl?

A barn owl, much like the one your father had on his farm. He blinked.

Do owls blink? No that was you, you’re dozing off. What an odd time to doze off, maybe your owl friend came to say goodbye. This is how you die after all, frozen on a dead lake.

Wait Mr. Owl, where are you going? His figure is dark against the snow as he hops his way across the white.

He turned his head full circle to gaze at you.

Don’t leave us Mr. Owl, I do not wish to die.

Follow him. The voice, your voice. It was so faint you almost mistook it as a whistle within the wind. Follow him! There it was again.

Your feet won’t budge, not even a twitch.

Follow him!

I can’t! There is no point, we can’t move! To prove your point, you demand your arms to move. Nothing they didn’t want to.

Mr. Owl patiently perched atop the snow to watch your pathetic display.

Get up! Please follow him!

Follow him, or stay either way you’ll die. What was the point, death was kind of peaceful. With the snow floating from the heavens, and the winds with their icy embrace.

Mr. Owl lost focus, he flapped his silent wings and glided through the abyss.

You’re alone again, move!

Get up! Move! A twitch, your finger. It moved! You want to live don’t you? Do it again.

Every pop and snap released a single finger, until one whole hand wiggled at your command. You can move? One hand, two hands. Your arms are next, move! The pain of the blood as it unthaws in your veins. Your will to live gets louder as every muscle screams through the frosty touch of death.

You’re standing, kind of. You can’t feel your legs, or hands, your fingers are blackened. So you crawl, you trudge on hands and knees.

Don’t forget to breathe. You suck in a deep breath, it cracks down your throat and shatters your lungs. You did it, now find the- he’s here.

Mr. Owl, his big eyes peer into your soul. He hopped forward to the darkening horizon.

Wait for me! I’m coming! What are you thinking? He can’t hear you, you should speak up! He needs to hear you!

He doesn’t wait for you, he takes flight once again.

Don’t let him leave you!

“Wa-” It’s too cold, your tongue is stuck to your teeth. You’re too late, Mr. Owl is leaving you. Get back here you damn owl! “I’m here! Don’t let us die!”

Move your feet, stand up, you are not fast enough. The snow is burying you, can’t you feel your blood freezing again?

Move dammit! Don’t you want to live?

Yes I want us to live! We have to live! You’re standing! Now follow that damn bird! He’s right there! I see him! The snow fights your urge to live; it falls harder and faster than before. The wind too pushes you to lay down and let go. So why don’t you?

“I want to live, we need to live.” Yes we need to live.

“That’s it honey get up!”

Mr. Owl, he’s talking to you? He speaks, what did he say?

“Come on! You can do it you need to get up!”

Mr. Owl’s voice he’s here? Why can’t you see him? Why can’t you see anything? The blinding white is gone, darkness has taken its place.

“Please get up, follow my voice!”

Mr. Owl? No, it’s a woman’s voice!

A bundle of blankets weighs heavy in your arms, you still cannot see. What are you holding? Who are you holding? Big eyes stare at you from under the blanket. Owen!

You are covered in burns, but your son is safe in your arms. Your mother calls to you, from where? Your eyes, can only see Owen.

“Follow my voice!”

Okay, follow her voice! You’re trying so hard to move your body towards your mother, how could you forget? Your legs are frozen? Frozen? Or set ablaze?

You can’t move them. You keep Owen close and shove your way through snow. Snow? That’s not snow, snow is frozen not a fiery wall. Fire there is so much much fire. Why do you feel so cold?

“That’s it, come here!”

Where is Mr. Owl he would be so happy to see you moving again.

You feel rough desperate hands grapple Owen away, why are they taking your son away. Don’t let them take your son!

Too late they tore him from your arms, rude.

Where is the snow coming from? You feel it on your back, and your legs, hands and fingers. Is that snow? It can’t be snow, snow doesn’t leave burns.

Mr. Owl! You’re back! He sits in the tree above you. The frosty chill is back too, you haven’t gotten very far. You’re still sitting under that tree. Did you give up?

It hurts, everything hurts, can’t I just stay here?

“Save her! Please!”

That sounds like your mother, do you dare disappoint her?

She’ll be alright won’t she?

No, she will not be alright. I see you have given up haven’t you? You fought for so long. It’s okay to rest now. Owen is safe, Mr. Owl will let you go now. Death is peaceful and kind. Just let go, just let go.

Forgive me mom, I tried.

Do you remember now? The accident? That’s right you were in an accident, on your way home from the hospital, after you gave birth to your son. Some drunken soul ran a red light, now you have to pay the price.

I am sorry! I am so sorry.

By: LaKia Decker