The dark road to sun

I follow the footsteps as a thing soundlessly meander down the pathway, just away from the road.

The only place with people. The trick or treaters shouts of excitement just buzzing into background noise as I gaze into the dark abyss of the woods. Dark like a mouth that wants to swallow me.

Their footsteps stop as it's eyes, green, fleam back at me. Prompting me forward. Telling me its time to go. That the mortal world no longer needs my presence.

I should be afraid. I should turn the other way. I know following it will be the end. That going in that darkness will be it. If I go in there, my entire existence will disappear. The trees could swallow me, making so the fact that I never meant to exist in the first place. That i was only meant to be on their plane of existence for so long.

I'm only 15.

I gaze at its figure, watching it scratch behind its chipped ear. A soft whisper entering my ear.

mowwww

I glance back to the lights of the road, before looking right back into the green of its eyes.

"I didn't ask for this," I tell it and it scratches its marred ear once more. It looks at me, gazing at me like I have a soul. " I never asked to exist." I say as it licks its leg. Ignoring my crisis as my brain formulates just how I got here.

Id been at home, at the dinner table. All by myself as it usually was on a typical weekend.

Eating a lonely snack of cake. Wondering what i would do in the morning since it'll be a Saturday. Would I go for a walk? Would I call my friend? The ideas seemed endless as I thought of my weekend adventures. Thinking that anywhere would be better than being at home.

I wasn't expecting the door to open. Nor for him to come home so early. Slamming the door behind him in rage as he usually did some days.

It puts it's foot down to gaze at me once more. Green eye slit as it observes me. Tells me what I need to know versus what sits in my mind like a rotting rodents at roadside.

I look to my hands. Biting my lips as I look to the scars. " Why is this happening to me?" I wonder out loud. Looking at the dry patches. The scars, the orangish red stains in odd places, covering all my fingers.

Would anyone find me? Would they care enough to look?

mowwww

it reminds. Soft, almost gentle. As it's eyes become orbs once more. As it stretches, crunching in a way that will ease its aches.

What will mother think when she gets home and I'm not there? What will father tell her? Did I ever really mean anything at all to anyone? What was the point of having me if they were just gonna leave me by myself all the time?

Mother, was I suppose to be born?

Brother, don't blame yourself.

Sister, I wish you the best.

My friend, let's play when we see one another on the sun.

I stare at the stains on my hands, taking a few steps back. Thinking about how much it hurt. Terror ran through my veins as I remembered screaming. Sobbing in fear as I tried to dig my fingers into the carpet. The pain as the liquid spread over me, the darkness when something slammed into my head.

why father?!

Mowwww

I look up to narrowed eyes. Finding its head tilted as it studying me. Relaxed in a sitting position, tail wrapped over its front legs.

I look towards the darkness once more. It engulfing visage seeming to grow darker.

My gut clenches my mouth slams shut. Watching it swirl, almost.

"People think dying is such a horrible thing. Like a ring of fire is awaiting them or some red man with horns and a pitch fork is gonna judge them."

I look to meet the gaze of my bestest friend. Her eyes wide, blue and unafraid as she looks towards the sky.

"Isn't that what religious people say. Death is the end isn't it. When you die, you just stop existing" I tell her because thats what death means. " There is nothing afterwards."

It's head tilts to the other side, eyes squinting once more.

"I refuse to believe that shit!" She chirps like shes talking about her weather " life is beautiful to just erase after someone leaves, or to just become a copy. I think there's something good for everyone. A place where there is no sadness or stress. A place with a sun."

I find the tenseness in my gut easing just a bit at the memory.

I remember.

Mowwww

I offer it a look "are you death?" I inquire politely, observing it's whiskers as it proceeds to get to it's feet. Beginning to walk into the abyss, disappearing into its darkness.

It doesn't answer, but Im not surprised. Cats can't talk to humans, least of all their souls.

Yet in the vast befuddlement that is my mind at the moment. I know that I'm not in any danger. That the second I follow, everything just might be fine.

I take one step closer to the darknesses embrace.

I can hear the laughter

Two steps

I hear wind chimes

Three steps

I hear my name being called. Loud, excited. Filled with happiness.

Step after step, becoming easier. Brighter, light almost engulfing me as I jump into the tunnel of darkness.

Yet its not trees that engulf me. Its a road, simple, straightforward. There's a light.

Someone is calling my name. It's my bestest friend. Her silhouette waiting on the other side. I can just picture her blue eyes as I push myself to run faster.

The cat stays at My side. Green eyes glistening like emerald as the light shines on them. Excitement covering it's face.

"Moo!" I hear from the sunny place. Another silhouette appearing. A wider, older voice calling. That of an old man.

The cat run ahead of me. Sprinting into the light rays with me inches behind it. A smile coming over my face as I catch the sight of its black fur, shimmering as it disappears.

So it wasn't death.

I jump into the rays of sunlight. Following Moo into the light.

Forgetting the dark abyss that sits behind me.