'Breaking Solitude' - Short Story

[lotsofface]

Here's another short story, somewhat similar to my last one in terms of some of the settings and themes, but I hope you enjoy it. As I approach the edge of civilization I find myself especially enthusiastic about today's solitary adventures, whatever they may be. The paved roads become dirt and signal an official entrance into nature. I for one find that something like psilocybin or LSD isn't necessary for a person to enjoy the forest. Ever since the beginning of my fascination with art, I have often found that the forest seems to be a perfect setting for a sort of creative confinement. The removal of society seems to bring a personal context that allows me to have crucial time alone to absorb my experience. I begin by wandering (while simultaneously yearning for guidance or inspiration). The faint sound of a creek enters my perception, and calls me. I use the best of my hearing abilities to try to map out the creek. It is definitely to my right. I consciously navigate myself in that direction. Meanwhile, I passively observe and enjoy the forest setting. although non-plant life seems almost no-existent, I feel a real sense of life in the air, a real sense of place and purpose. I begin to realize that by isolating the human element, I seem to remove its significance. Society gives humans a purpose and without that I am humbled to the universe. This is a very common theme of my thoughts during these monthly visits outside of my mundane city life. so many people believe that what makes them important is their personal qualities when it is in fact our relationships that do that. Relationships with our surroundings, our past, our fellow humans, and everything we perceive give us meaning, not talents or possessions. I suddenly realize that I no longer hear the creek. It's as if the sound was drowned out by the sheer volume of my own thoughts. I stop walking and tilt my head in an attempt to isolate and locate the creek. It's not there. I had certainly been walking towards it, but now all I hear are footsteps. they are coming from behind me. I turn around and see what is rare, but not unseen - another human being, a woman to be precise. She seems quite young and is wearing the typical athletic jogging gear that I see anytime I find someone else here. As she jogs towards me, avoiding eye contact, she seems to glow. Something about her face just seems so bright and rich, not to mention the deep color in her eyes. I intend to be friendly so as she passes by, I give a modest greeting. "Hi". She stops immediately and turns to me, "I'm sorry?", she asks as if she genuinely didn't hear me. "I just said hello", I confirm, trying to avoid any sort of long term conversation. That would ruin the point of this whole trip. "Why?", she asks with a blank stare. I pause for a second before becoming overwhelmed with confusion. "Why did I say hello?", I ask, still puzzled over her reaction. "Yeah, why did you say that? What a silly thing to say", she declares. "It doesn't seem so silly to me", I respond. "It's not too often that I see someone else out here. When I'm out here too long I tend to forget that other people exist", I joke. She now appears subtly angry as she asks, "Are you suggesting that I exist?". I begin to stare at her, almost startled by this bizarre conversation. "Well of course", I respond confidently. "What gives you the right to tell me that I exist? Or that anything else exists?", she asks persistently. At this point in time I no longer understand the questions she's asking. I close my eyes with my hand rubbing my forehead. As I do this I hear a loud rushing from behind me. I open my eyes. The woman has vanished. I turn around and see a roaring flow of water falling down the mountain towards me. The speed of the water knocks me off of my feet as I fall back into the stream. I begin to float down into the water. Although the stream had been initially about 3 or 4 feet deep I begin to sink endlessly into what seemed to be the depth of a lake. It was as if some force had been pulling me down. I could hold my breath no longer as I panicked in the face of drowning. Strangely, when I gasped I seemed to breath in air. I float to the ground which now is covered in clear sand, still surrounded with water. I breathe calmly., though still appreciating my bizarre experience. The woman floats down in front of me. She was no longer in her jogging outfit but in a long white dress. She almost looked like an entirely different person, but I could tell it was her. It was the eyes. I began to stare again at her as she asks, "Do you still think I exists?". She smiles softly but truly. I can't help but smile back. "To be honest, I don't even know if I exist", I admit. Silence greets us as I stare into her dark eyes for what seems like at least five full minutes. After this intensely vivid moment begins to fade, she leans over and says, "I'm so sorry". I wake up. As I look around, I become upset. Obviously it was a dream. But why did it have to be? Why can't I have been there. Well as far as I can tell, I was. I was right there, alive, breathing, and existing, in a way i never have before. Please pardon the smiley faces. . . Any comments, critiques, or general feedback is always appreciated.

[Aristaeus]

Hmm, yet another entertaining read. I found this one to be just as good, if not better, than your previous story. Besides a few minor typos, the story itself is well written and imaginative. And, the recluse, philosophical narrator once again serves good company throughout the story. There are no major flaws, as far as I can see. ...Anyhow, good job again.

[lotsofface]

Hmm, yet another entertaining read. I found this one to be just as good, if not better, than your previous story. Besides a few minor typos, the story itself is well written and imaginative. And, the recluse, philosophical narrator once again serves good company throughout the story. There are no major flaws, as far as I can see. ...Anyhow, good job again. ha thanks. I was getting a bit angry at myself because this one seemed not to be unique enough from my previous one. The typos came from just me typing out the story directly onto DV's after hand-writing it. Never type sleepy, that's for sure. I would fix the typos but the editing window has expired and I don't really feel like contacting an admin. That's kind of a silly rule I think. oh well. Thanks for the feedback though.