The Woods

Leaves crunch under my feet and an owl hoots in the distance. A full moon is out, shining down into the forest, lighting up the trees.

My favourite place has always been the woods. Everything was different here, you could forget your troubles and enjoy every moment. You could forget that this was one of your last days.

"I'm sorry Keira, there's nothing we can do."

Cancer has taken millions of souls every year, it was only a matter of time before it took mine. In the woods, however, I didn't have to think about this. I could remember the happy times.

I told myself I was not going to be sad. I was going to be happy and have fun for the rest of my life.

I didn't want to remember I was dying. There come those negative thoughts again, creeping in like a cloud moving in front of the sun. Sad thoughts, threatening to spill tears from my eyes. 

This is one of my last days. Somehow, I feel like this can't be real. This can't be happening. Please, someone tell me it's not real. Anything would be better than this. 

"I'm not going to think about that." I tell myself out loud. I went here to be happy again, to forget. Maybe it's the thought of this being my last visit here that's scaring me. 

I'm not ready to leave Earth yet. I've barely started my life.

I sit down on a tree trunk and think.

What great things have I really accomplished? What have I accomplished at all? Honestly, I don't know.

I don't want to die. Tears come, and I allow myself to cry.

I don't want to go. I'm not ready to leave yet. I'm not ready.

My thoughts keep scaring me.

Will these be some of my last breaths? Will this be the last place I go? Will this be the last thing I do? Will this be my last thought?

"It doesn't work like that." It doesn't, right?

I don't know anything. I can't see anything. I know now, this is where I die. 

This is where I die. In my favourite place, the woods.