Forest

Dark clouds swirl meaninglessly in the bleak, starless sky above my head. I lie on the dry ground of the eerie forest, the slightest movement causing the dead leaves to rustle beneath me. Cold, blade like fingers brush against my wrist, gently at first, but they grow more and more violent, their nails scratching my skin, leaving red marks behind. I look to my left and see a face staring back at me, its features contorted but somehow it fills me with a feeling of familiarity. I have never felt so scared, yet so safe. So alone, yet so at peace.
With my vision blurred by tears I turn my head back to the sky and try to ignore the skeletal fingers which continue to claw at my wrist. Blood drips from the marks, my mind screams at me to move, to stop my suffering, but somehow I am entranced by the pain, mesmerised by the blood slowly dripping down my arm into the sink. Wait, something isn't right here, a minute ago I was in the forest, but now I'm at home in my bathroom. The face has disappeared too. Was it even there? What's wrong with me? I feel a weight in my hand, upon looking down I realise it is a piece of broken glass, clutched tightly in my blood covered palm. Did I do this?
The face, it's back again. The tall, slim figure is wearing mud covered jeans and a torn T shirt. With one emaciated arm outstretched it wordlessly beckons me forwards. No matter how hard I try, I cannot stop my feet from moving towards the ominous creature. Suddenly I am hit by a surge  of dizziness, like a wave violently crashing onto the shore. My surroundings start to spin, my vision fades.
Opening my eyes I realise that I am back in the forest. Something feels different this time. No longer do I feel the strange belonging that I felt the last time I was here, instead I am overcome with panic and fear. Struggling to my feet I stumble over leaves and branches, the coarse canopy of trees above my head blocking the dull light of the moon from reaching me.
        The air feels thick, so dense that it's difficult to breathe. Tears pour down my face, my breaths coming in short desperate gasps. I try to run, tripping and falling over each branch in my way but I waste no time in scrambling to my feet before continuing my sprint, too hysterical to think about where I'm going. I stop abruptly, shocked to find the figure from before standing in front of me. It stares at me, its cold glare sending shivers down my spine.
         A grimace grows on the haunting face as its body slowly begins to change. The little fat that clung its bones falling away, leaving a grotesque figure behind. Just looking at the cadaverous being makes me feel sick and- I pull back my hair as I empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. After a while I got used to the burning sensation at the back of my throat, I even feel a strange sense of pride every time I made up an excuse to skip a meal.
        Leaning against the wall I bring my hand up to my side, counting my ribs which have become slightly more prominent in the past month. But not prominent enough. Just as I'm about to slip into the never ending loop of self pity I am struck by a migraine. I sink to the floor and grasp my head, trying to dull the pain, but it doesn't work. My eyes close as I slouch against the wall and drift into unconsciousness.
        I sit up, free from my migraine. I'm back in the forest again but this time it seems different.  It seems... happier. The dark, clouds are replaced with a clear blue sky, the warmth of the sun shining down on my face.
        Green leaves dance in the sky to the rhythm of the song the sparrows are singing from the branches. No longer do the bare  branches loom over me threateningly, nor does the wind howl in my ear. Everything is calm, and I feel as though I have finally found peace.
        I slowly climb to my feet and begin to walk along the path before me. I'm in so much of a daze that I quickly lose track of how long I have been walking. I look around, hypnotised by the beauty of my surroundings. Soon I reach a waterfall, the rhythmic fall of water is so peaceful, so calming. Slowly the greenery around me fades back to the bleak, grey of the forest. I sink to my knees in despair. I awake on my bathroom floor, the used needle on the ground  beside me. My limbs feel weak, ever since my addiction started what's left of my appetite has shrunk. I don't want to be like this anymore, I don't want to be weak.
        I run. I'm being chased, but it's almost as though my assailant is floating behind me. I look back. It's the face from before. My legs begin to buckle, I'm barely able to jump over the roots of the trees in front of me. I'm running out of path. Panic sets in as I realise that I have no where to go. The cliff is close now, my assailant  right behind me, grabbing at me with its long fingers. Closing my eyes I will myself run faster in one final bout of energy.  I stop at the edge of the cliff. I can't take this anymore.
        I've never felt more alive. It's ironic,really. Finally feeling alive as I plummet to my death. I'm falling, I'm falling and---

~~~~~~~~~~~

The body lies on the table, waiting for someone, anyone, to come and identify it. It's contorted features look oddly at peace, it's emaciated arms folded neatly, slim, blade like fingers interlocked.  There was once a time when this body was animated and carefree. Then her demons took over. She blamed them for everything, but little did she know that her one true enemy, her only demon , was herself.