It was dark ahead. I was already struggling to see because of the fog, now the clouds were settling into an even darker haze. I kept walking. I was almost there. I started to see the silhouette of the cabin in the distance. The faint, warm glow of the one light on the porch getting brighter.
Finally, the cabin seemed so close I could walk up and knock on the door. A few more steps and I'd be there. And then it was dark. The walls closing in on me, I felt like I was falling but it was pitch black, I couldn't see anything. I was falling for what felt like forever. Not going anywhere in particular, just falling. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a faint light, growing brighter second after second.
I could see light. Not the fog from the cabin, not the cabin's dim glow, but a bright light. Daylight. I could see the colors. Blue skies, green trees and puffy clouds. It was so close I felt as if I was going to fall. I was moving closer and closer. The sky was pulling me in. I was almost there, so afraid to fall but I had nowhere else to go. There was nothing I could do. And then I didn't. I didn't fall and i was pretty sure I wasn't dead. I found myself running and then walking, quietly landing safely in the blades of soft, spring grass.
My stomach churned from confusion. "What just happened" I thought. Thankfully, I still had possession of my backpack that I was carrying. I checked my phone and realized that the falling that felt like minutes, was actually days. Forty-five days to be exact. I looked at the hundreds of messages I had. Most of them consisted of "Where are you", "We're worried about you" and the occasional texts from my girlfriend. I was aware I would have to answer back eventually but now was not the time. I put my phone back into my bag and headed to find a way out of this place.
It was beautiful. It was like one of those scenes from a Disney movie. Flowers spread across the valleys that weren't covered in trees frosted with the smallest bit of snow and the greenest grass you'd ever have a chance to see. It was perfect. I put my backpack down and decided; I'm staying here.