Back To Black

Beyond Our Thoughts

It's strange, usually when you're running away from nothing, you don't look back, but I was running away from everything: my life, my job, my home, my future. I was running away from my entire life, a good life, at that and not once had I looked back. It was scary, I was willing to give up everything over something not even promised and I wouldn't dare look back.

I followed Danny down the dirt road, until we made a right and swiftly, that dirt road turned into a beautiful stone path. Danny jogged on, but I stayed there at the beginning of that path.

My feet wouldn't budge, and I really didn't want them to. Staring down at that path, it was like the path to a whole new life and I wasn't sure if I was ready. I mean, was I? It's hard to think of everything I was losing.

"Jess, you coming? Jess?" Taking a deep breath, I looked up at Danny. "Jessa, are you okay?" He approached me, cautiously.

"Yes. Maybe. No, I-I don't know. It's just that....."

"Jess, I get it. You don't have to explain yourself to me, just take your time. I'm in no rush." I shook my head, tears filling my eyes.

"How do you do it, Danny? How do you just let go and carry on without a care in the world? It just seems so strange knowing there's so much to lose, but you just......let go. How?"

I looked up towards Danny and we locked eyes. I couldn't read his facial expression it was somewhere between empathy and sorrow. Tears filled my eyes and dared to fall, so Danny stepped closer to me, gently, taking a hold of my face, he swept his thumb across my cheeks.

Wrapping his arms around me, Danny pulled me closer to him, rubbing my back, in a circular motion with his palm. He kissed my forehead. "Come on, I have something to show you."

Taking a hold of my hand, Danny guided me and I wipped away my tears with my free hand. I would imagine being comforted by a family member, a brother, or a best friend, but not a stranger.

My eyes widened at the sight of what was ahead of me. It was a sanctuary, a delight that shinned through the cracks of desperation, letting delight of pure hope into the dark places that I never knew light could exsist.

"Is this.......Is this your tree house, Daniel?" In shock, my breath was taken away by the string of lights, running through the pathways of bridges that hung in suspense above our heads.

It wasn't an ordinary tree house, a crystal, blue lake later under the whole thing, vines intertwined between pieces of wood, shinning against the lights, looking like fireflies. A sign was hung on the side, by the door way that read:

Be free. Just let go.

"No. No, it's not my tree house." Confused, I look up towards Danny, who just stares at the sight ahead of us.

"Well, who's is it?"

"It's yours." Staring at Danny, he looked towards me, without batting an eye or moving a muscle. He was in all seriousness.