Split

The Way Home

Long time no see! Been busy with my freshman year of high school. Sorry if this doesn't get posted until really late.

Tom and I walked down the street towards my mom's clinic. We were nearly there when something in the woods caught my eye. There was a small glint from something that blinded me in one eye for a few seconds. I nudged Tom in the side, who had been talking about one of the classes i didn't share with him. He blinked, and gave me a questioning gaze. I pointed to the forest.

"There's something in there that i want to check out. Do you mind going on without me? I promise we can walk the whole way tomorrow," I asked. Tom nodded, and waved goodbye as he began walking again. I trudged into the woods, glancing around for any sign of what caught my eye. Just as I was about to give up, I spotted it. It was coming from a hole in a tree. I had to stretch up onto the tips of my toes to reach it, but I managed to grab the object. It was some sort of glass tetrahedron wrapped in a plastic sandwich bag. It would be a good paperweight, but I don't know why anyone would put it in a bag. Maybe they were worried the fragile-looking glass prism would break if handled too roughly. I didn't think about that as I opened up the bag, and I stuck my hand into the bag to grab the prism. I instantly jerked my hand back as I felt a shock run through me. I glared at the object in confusion, and shrugged it off as the glass being hot from being in direct sunlight for who knows how long.

I reached my hand back into the bag, gritting my teeth through the burning sensation. I was sure my skin would be able to handle the heat eventually. I don't know how I ever came to such a stupid conclusion, but I regret my ignorance in that moment.