A Place of No Return

Wili had always been a run and go,

Legs fidgeting as if they’d snap off and leave Their upper half behind in the dust without a second thought,

They were always moving.

Well, today- as always, Wili was on the move again, as they cycled down the street.

Today was the day.

It was Grandma’s birthday.

Grandma had been getting worse since the flu outbreak this fall when Wili went to school.

One of Wili’s roommates, Blu, had gotten the flu, and all he did was hack and yack, his face a vibrant burgundy, as the mucus that clogged his esophagus ad nostrils gorged into his broken watered-down voice that it made Wili cringe the entire week Blu was sick.

Wili shook their head, They didn’t want to imagine Grandma that way.

Mom always called Wili whilst Wili was at school, and Wili always asked about Grandma since her admission to the hospital last semester. Mom had always assured Wili that Grandma didn’t have the flu, but her voice was always coarse on the phone, like she had been screaming for hours till her throat throbbed red and weak.

But now, Wili was home.

Nothing was going to stop them from seeing Their Grandma.

Wili trekked through a shortcut. They and Their friends used to go all the time, though it recently became an established hunting ground since they’ve left.

But Wili reassured Themself, after all, it was almost winter. It's not rabbit season, yet.

Wili juggled along the bumpy root littered forest,

Passing by the old cabin which they had a class fire at once- the Main St. Titans Senior Night first campfire event, where even the teachers came and roasted a marshmallow or two. It was a common place Wili and Their Grandma hiked, but not without Their Grandma clenching Wili’s hand to stay beside her side, as though if she ever let go, Wili would be whisked away. Then Wili passed by the tree, Their Grandma had carved an owl into it once. She would always told Wili: “Owls are your guides in the forest.”

Yet, Will heard no whoots or groans.

But, that was fine. Wili emerged through the forest, Their jaw cracking wide, as They imagined the illuminated hospital tower, the windows letting all the light out for all the town to bask in, a metal frame illumination of St. Peter’s Basilica. The roundabout was patiently quiet for when Wili would lock Their bike next to the door, to walk through the gates to Their grandma.

Only instead They felt a sudden jerk of motion, boiling against Their leg as They flew, crashing to the ground as Their back and arms roared, burning like a newly lit fire.

When Wili opened Their eyes, Their eyes darted past Their scrapped up, tossed around body that weighed like coarse gelatin as they forced themselves to sit up. Instead, they spotted more tree roots, shrubs, and limbs further beyond.

Weird. The vegetation definitely stops about here. This was where the road to the hospital should be.

Wili weakly climbed to Their feet, like the times Mom recounted Baby Wili getting up after hitting Their head many times before.

Through the woods, past the cabin, the owl tree, hospital road.

That’s always how this shortcut was.

Or was it? Maybe Wili missed a turn?

Wili took Their bike, jumping on and pumping the gears as they rode through the forest, and came upon the cabin, instead going through the cabin ground, passing the campfire and picnic table that had been vibrant some time ago heading north. There Wili spotted another carved owl.

Huh?

But there’s a tree with an owl already over where Wili just fell.

Wili grumbled.

Must’ve imagined it.

Wili continued till the tree line began to again dissipate, only to be engulfed again into the forest instead of the hospital road.

Wili growled, Their fists clenching their bike’s handles till Their knuckles lost color, as the sky cloaked in a blanket of cobalt, the only warmth Wili could feel was the burning pulses of Their body.

Again, Wili dove into the forest, happening upon the cabin, instead, heading south, only to find another carved tree, an owl carved tree. Again, They pumped past the tree, and They charged at the tree clearing, They’re eyes pressed shut, diving into the clearing, only to painfully drop into further shrub and grime.

Wili continued Their travel, until They started finding an owl carving against every tree They happened upon, turning Them round in circles, as Their body began to give out as they stomped against the pedals.

How many times had Grandma carved an owl in these woods?

They traveled to the cabin again, using their bike as a stand, planting their feet against every slab of dirt as a root engulfed Wili’s foot, as Wili and Their bike went flying and Wili dragged through the dirt. There Wili roared, the heat from Their body, long evaporated as They wailed Their frosted rose pink quivering hands into the ground.

Wili lay there in the cabin grounds which they fell, battered, cold and dirty.

The wind whistled as a branch snapped and tree limbs shook. Wili didn’t care, as They continued to lie there in cold defeat.

Wili thought of the myth that Their Grandma and Their class joked about the cabin woods on winter’s eve, when the sky is dark and no road in sight- You will be trapped in the forest.

“I just want to see my grandma.” Wili whined, Their stone cold fingers again attempting to connect only to the painful ache Their bones.

“Wili.” Grandma’s voice sang, the hum ringing in Wili’s ears so warmly that they had to lift their head to hear it.

“Wili.” Grandma’s voice sang louder, and now Wili’s eyes lingered to her voice, slimmed between joy and begrudged sorrow. “Grandma?”

“Welcome home, Wili.” Grandma’s voice murmured as a shadowy figure came close and Wili lay there cold, dirty, and a body with no soul, in the abysmal cabin ground.