Life and other Disasters

9. The forest of never-spoken thoughts

And so they continued their journey. Dandelions, Sunflowers, and ragwort waved in the wind - silent spectators cheering them on. 

Finally, the progression they made was visible. If they continued at the same pace, it appeared they would make it to the tower before nightfall. Slowly the landscape changed. Fields that seemed to go on forever were taken over by poplars, sycamores, and birches.

That was if David could keep it all together. Ava kept a close eye on him, for she was sure he was trying to look healthier than he was.

Behind her back he uttered a soft groan several times, his eyes closed, his mouth twisted in pain. But whenever she turned around, he would smile, acting as if everything was okay. His step would quicken, he would even put a little bounce in it. It was his way of saying that there was nothing to see here, just keep moving.

Ava knew that David was in a bad shape, but she refused to fuss over him. She had hated it herself when her mother had treated her like she was a porcelain doll, that would break as soon as she stepped out of her room. There was nothing in the world that would make her treat any other person in the world that same way. 

"How long have you stayed in Saul's Rest?" Ava asked, kicking a pebble away.

David frowned as if she had asked what the meaning of life is.

 "I can't really remember, actually," he said. "I tried to keep track, but sometimes I wasn't sure if I already counted the day or not. I gave up after marking fifteen days, but I'm not sure if that's correct. It might be more, it might be less."

"So, the inn was just like this road," Ava said, "they're both messing with your mind."

David looked pensive in the distance.

"It's not that strange you know," he said finally, "we have to make a choice. We can't stay here forever."

"I'm going back to my old life," Ava said without missing a beat. 

David hiccupped, hiccupped again until his hiccups turned into laughter.

"I am serious," Ava said when David finally calmed down a bit.

"And I'm sure you are, but it doesn't work like that." His mouth curved into a sad smile. "You are here for a reason."

Ava was quiet, searching for a perfect comeback. But all she found were more questions. 

"What is this? she said. Their path was blocked by a fence. 

The fence was beautiful, but it was macabre at the same time. It looked like a normal cast-iron fence, adorned with little human figures. It was hard to see if they were male or female, but their expressions were clear.

Some of the creatures were weeping, some of them had their hands clutched together as if they begged for mercy and some of them reached out for whatever was waiting behind the gate.

Behind the fence, Ava could see the outstretched greenness of a forest. The beautifully sculpted gateway stood ajar.

David didn't have to think twice about it and walked right through the gate, but it was different for Ava. 

"Is this the right way?" she asked, but David didn't hear her question. 

A chill ran down her spine when she walked through the gate. She didn't like this for one bit, but she didn't want to abandon David, who had walked on without any reluctancy. 

The world became even quieter. Spruces and birches stood alongside, their leaves and needles muffling every sound. The musty smell of half-rotten leaves and wet earth filled her nose. Soft needles on the floor smothered her footsteps. Silent as a ghost, David had disappeared behind the outstretched branches of trees and vegetation.