A Simple Gesture

Prologue

      There is a time in one's life when they made a mistake without realizing it. Sometimes, there aren't bad consequences for making a mistake; other times it may cost them their job, their house, maybe their family, maybe their life. Regardless of what happens, your life will change forever. I don't know how it happened, but deciding to visit Japan changed my life forever. My job and my apartment are replaceable, but my family? Well, they aren't my *actual* family, but I'm known them for so long that I think of them as siblings from different mothers.

      I was visiting Japan with my two best friends, Charles and Andrea. We went to some cities and forests. While I would have loved to finish our trip, it ended unexpectedly once when Charles died, Andrea went missing, and I was held hostage. Now, how on earth did this happen? Well, let me explain as best I can.

      While we were resting in our Air BnB, Charles was looking up places to visit. Eventually, he came across a website describing shrine forests across Japan. They're essentially the Japanese version of the American National Forests, but a more religious take. These decent-sized forests are dedicated to shrines that have been built across Japanese history. Naturally, because of our love for history and nature, we were intrigued. Our intrigue morphed into excitement once when we came across a shrine forest called Kasuga Tanisha Forest, which just so happened to be nearby. The next day, we hopped into our rental car and drove to Kasuga.

      The forest itself was beautiful, with its bountiful shades of greens, yellows, and browns. The forest was still trying to reach full bloom, but it was beautiful nonetheless. The three of us took to the trails, taking our time to admire the forest. As we walked, the path slowly became more and more unkept; the asphalt path changed to gravel, eventually to dirt and dead plants. It was about here I was getting the idea we're reaching the end of the Kasuga Tanisha property. As the same time, I was confused about why the paths didn't loop together, making it a closed loop so no one would get lost. I tried telling the other two this, but they dismissed me as being paranoid and that it said on the website that all paths lead to the shrine (we haven't seen the shrine yet).

      We got into a small argument as to whether or not to continue our small journey. My ideas of this was relying n the fact whatever this shrine is dedicated to would be the main attraction of this forest, thus would have well-built and we'll-kept paths. But noooooo, turns out there are multiple shrines within this forest. The one they wanted to see was located deep within Jasuga Tanisha, located just off an abandoned villiage; it's said to be one of the oldest shrines in the country. I would have been fine with such a journey if they had given me a heads-up first, but they didn't. And, the kicker? It's a half-a-day hike o get to this shrine; approximately a 9 to 11-hour hike in total... I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS!!! I expected us to be out for 6 hours Max, and I brought enough supplies for such an occasion. To say I was pissed would be an understatement.

      While I would have moved to see this shrine Charles and Andrea wanted to see, I simply was not prepared for a fell-day hike. Plus, I was very upset because I was kept out of the loop, so I didn't want to be around them that much away. So, I turned around and walked back to the car. By myself, which isn't something you're supposed to do, by the way. I made it back safely and decided to visit a nearby, nonabandoned village to restock my supplies. It was small, but it was a beautiful place that had decorations everywhere; a lot of green, pink, and white. Turns out their Spring Festival was in full-swing. It was a good time overall, but I received a lot of stares and questions. Because my friends and I visited mostly big cities that were used to foreigners, it was a bit weird to be fawned at. It was mostly women and girls who were fawning, giving me compliments, asking questions, and showing me things. One of them wanted to give me a makeover (Iwas a little dirty from hiking), but I had to decline since I had to pick up my friends. Though I didn't get a makeover, they strongly insisted on doing my hair. I was hesitant, but they convinced me they would keep it simple. They put it into a tight braided bun and put in green and white flower hair pins (to match my clothes).

      The men and boys were a little different. They would come up to me and ask questions like the girls and women would, but they would ask personal questions, like 'Do I have someone at home?' or 'Is gun violence a problem where I live?' (in case you're curious, it's no and it's complicated). Though, I'm an honest and open person, some of their questions were kinda weird. When I was asked a weird question or something too personal, I would dance around it. Eventually, they got the hint and changed their question.

      I received a lot of free food and some trinkets. My favorite our of the handful I received was a little key chain of a cartoon dog that looks nearly identical to my Roxie, a Rottweiler. My Roxie has a small, vaguely heart-shaped, white spot on her front leg, the key chain didn't have such a spot. Another things I received was a drawing of me, created by a younger girl (she couldn't have been any older than 12). A drawing of me standing next to their only Cafe, drawn in crayon and pencil. I told her she did an amazing job and that I would pin it to my fridge when I got home. She was a little confused by the, so I had to explain that it was a great thing, it's a sign of excellence. I've never seen someone so bashful, but I hope it gave her a confidence boost because she nearly started crying as she gave me the drawing.

      While I had a lot of fun and made lots of good memories, I had to leave to go get my friends (I did make sure to restock though). I hope they had as much fun as I did. When I returned to Kasuga Tanisha, my joyfulness soon dissipated when I received a text from Andrea, a very alarming one. It went as follows:

      "Maddie, I want you to know thay I will always be your friends, no matter what happens. I hope you feel the same way for me and Charles. I'm so sorry that we didn't tell you what our plans were. I assumed Charles was going to tell you, so that's why I didn't. But, that doesn't matter; you were right. We should have stayed on other marked paths. Following a dirt path covered in dead plants should have been a clear indicator that we shouldn't go this way. We could have found another way or something. We didn't make it to the shrine, we got lost, but we're losing with something dangerous. I don't know what it is, but it got Charles. It saw it kill Charles. His screams, Maddie, they were nightmarish.

      "I don't know how I managed to lose it, but I'm hiding in a tree trunk. To catch my breath. Before Charles died, we decided we were going to make it up to you since we saw how upset you were. If I make it out, I'm going to make sure you're spoiled rotten. You will forever have my trust and be at your side. I love you, as a sister from another mother. Please remember me and call for help."

      Long story short, I did not call for help. I don't know why, I should have since I had cell service. You know how I said to not wander into a forest by yourself, especially if you've never been there? It was a number 1 rule and I broke it a second time that day.