Poetry and Lyrics|| TRIGGER WARNING||

Sapling in the Dark

It was a dark and stormy night, the wind whistled through the misty haze I call life. My skin screamed as I dragged my bare feet against the hard, edgy concrete. Signs scattered the city about the brand new year coming up. 2003, the year everyone has been waiting for. All that came from my mouth when first heard about was a small sigh. My thoughts wondered, screaming submission in my head. My conscience wearing thin, I continued through my average day. I lifted my head, looking around to study my surroundings. Tall buildings scattered the area, with no cars passing by, it seemed as if the fog got stronger and was starting to consume me whole.

My thoughts continued to haunt me, my breath hitched and all thoughts somehow went blank. Am I being possessed? I raised my hand, placing it over my chest. It felt as if my heart was as cold as ice. What is this that's happening to me?

I raised my head to be met with total emptiness. Just a plain, desert. Of course, I knew this wasn't real. The desert was cold, and no buildings were in sight. Maybe I'm going insane? I pulled at my hair and slammed my eyes shut, hearing a faint dripping in the back of my mind. Why is this happening? I felt my knees go weak, falling onto the grainy ground. White lights, too bright, flashed throughout my vision. The migraine in my head growing larger with every pulse in my veins. I opened my eyes, examining a new substance sitting in front of me. A small puddle of water. I squinted, noticing the puddle gradually getting smaller. My thoughts ran fast. I cupped my hands and let the puddle engulf me. This small amount of water, in the palm of my hands, has to be a sign. I stood, making sure to keep the puddle steady.

I lifted my feet, walking forth, creating faint foot prints in the sand behind. The noise in the back of my head got louder, and louder, until I couldn't take it. I screamed in agony as the migraine consumed my poor mind. I looked down to see my feet slowly sinking into the light sand. My breathing quickened

as I began to run. As the puddle splashed around in my hands, the sand began to eat away at my feet at a faster pace.

"No" I repeated as the water began to drain between my fingertips. I stopped, dead in my tracks staring carefully at the water, letting the sand devour me. It got faster, but a thought in the back of my head dominated me. I'm not sinking, the sand is increasing. I shook the thought off, focusing on the water in my hand that was slowly depleting.

I felt the sand build up to my torso, quickly, I lifted my arms above my head. The sand built up, and soon it was at my throat, like a sword from a warrior. I stood still, unable to move, the only noise being that of my breath. The coldness ate at my skin, as I examined the miles of empty land.

I noticed, at the top of my eyes, the sky grew dark. Clouds surrounding every inch, and small droplets of liquid began to fall. I moved my hand to gain substance in my hand, but I received nothing, I moved my hand once more, and still, nothing, the rain scattered everywhere except for my hands. Why is this happening? I asked myself once more. I looked up at the gray clouds, forgetting about the chaos that was happening beneath me. The sand grew more, and just before it could engulf me completely, I felt a splash of liquid pierce my eye, blurring my vision.

I opened them, examining a new terrain of forest. With the liquid running down my cheek, I looked down to see the amount of water I had left. I lifted my feet, running through the mass of vegetation. As I entered, I heard a choir singing melodies from above the tree tops. My mind felt as if they were cheering me on, but my heart screamed that they were taunting me with every step I took. After making what seemed to be about a hundred sharp twists and turns through the trees, I made it to a bright clearing. Surrounding by trees, and flowers of sorts, I walked forth. And there it laid, a tiny plant, which came to mind as an oak sapling, slightly leaning over as if it were dying. My thoughts were

scattered, hanging heavy on both sides of my shallow mind. I knelt down, letting the now small droplet of water fall from my aching skin and onto the small plant.

I suddenly felt my eye lids grow heavy, and with that, I tumbled to the ground. The pressure on my chest greatened and I began to become desperate for air as darkness suffocated my vision of beauty.

I slowly lifted my tired eyes, seeing a gray sky of clouds and mist. I knew that was all a dream. I felt the massive pounding in my brain as I slowly sat up. I suddenly felt an odd texture pressing against my back. Raising my head to see the green leaves of a massive oak tree, which for sure was not here before. I suddenly felt a wave emotion swallow me whole. Letting the tears slip from my eyes, I lowered my head from the massive beauty that was surrounded by pain.