Tick tock

*~1~*

I took the cigarette in my hand and I lifted it up to my lips, inhaling it slowly. I shifted the position of myself on the porch, the cool autumn breeze blew through my semi long bland dirty blond hair. My mind somewhere else as I subconsciously stared at the forest right outside my lonely cottage.

This was what I always did... I mean, I had nothing else to do. It's quite hard to be a twenty year old that dropped out of college and decided to live alone in the forest.
This was the lifestyle I chose so I shouldn't even be complaining. It is all my fault apparently.

At least that's what everyone says.

I watched as the trees danced moving to the rhythm of the wind. I glanced at the setting sky, taking the cigar in my hand and throwing it on the grass; squishing it with the tip of my right foot.

I looked back at my small, old cottage; contemplating on the thought of taking a walk in the forest.
I looked down at my watch.
Huh, it's only 8:30. Not that late.

I rolled my eyes before getting up and heading towards the entrance of the forest.

The forest was dark, the tall trees suffocating all light source from the sky above. I adjusted my pink sweater, putting it back on my shoulder. I looked down at my watch again becoming a little paranoid.
8:45, damn! It's not even that late! You get scared so easily, wuss.
I sighed and increased my pace, my heartbeat increasing with every step I take.

The wind howled making the trees cast shadows along each other, creating the illusion of someone or something following you. I looked down at my watch.
9:10. Shit, I'm lost... how smart of me.
I came to a halt, my hair mixed with the aggressive pressure of the wind whipping me in the face. Moving my hair from my face, I looked around frantically for anything that looked out of the ordinary, something like a light or a clearing; but nope! Everything looked the exact same.
A rustling sound came from behind me and I jerked around to face it.
Wow... just a tree... so scary.
My eyes trailed to below the tree and stopped at a yellow object, covered in shadows and ripped, dead leaves. Cautiously, I walked over to the object, crouching down and reaching for it.
Oh, just a stuffed giraffe... not creepy at all.

I look around for a sign of someone maybe looking for their... giraffe? No one was here though, maybe this was from a long time ago.
I look ahead and see a clearing that looked quite familiar.

Taking one last glance back at the forest, I grab the giraffe and start walking.

I sigh in relief as I see my cottage, sprinting towards the back door and unlocking it; slipping into the darkness of my home.
I take off my hood and run my fingers through my hair; still staring at the giraffe, it's black beady eyes staring back at me. With the heal of my foot I close the door behind me and make my way to the kitchen; sitting on the edge of the counter.

The giraffe's fur felt rough and had burnt splotches all over its body and neck along with its left ear somehow missing. Something in its eyes screamed that it had witnessed things... things that my scared ass wouldn't be able to handle.

I don't know what to do with it... but one thing's for sure that I'm not keeping it.
Maybe I might give it to my niece; the daughter of my thirty three year old successful and married sister.
I scoff at the thought of her. I put down the giraffe and head upstairs to get some sleep, still feeling the giraffe's eyes burning a hole through the back of my head.
Are those the giraffe's eyes though?
Of course they are... no ones here...
Right?