The Forest by the Road

The path looked longer now he was here, and there were more crossings and junctions and twists and turns. Even after studying the map over and over Adam still didn't know where to go. Supposedly it was 12kms to the town, and he had to go west. You could tell from the sun right? Which way was west? But the sun was hooded by clouds. Ahead were two paths, one slightly to the right, and the other going slightly to the left. He picked the right. "Right is right" he laughed, but no sound came. He was parched, his last drink had been three hours or so ago. His bottle now hung empty from his backpack. He probably only had 11kms now. Maybe 10 and a half. Through the midday haze he could see the beginnings of a forest. The tall red gums filled the sky. Stopping in the shade he opened his bag, sticky with dust and sweat. His lunch consisted of half a roll, filled with wilted lettuce and soggy tomato and cold tea from two days ago, in a thermos. He lay down and rested. He just needed a couple of hours of sleep. Just a couple of hours...

When Adam woke again a light breeze whispered around him. The moon shone pale light onto the trees, casting ghostly shadows. He was so tired. And sore. And tired. His stomach grumbled, angry at missing dinner. Inside Adam's bag was the other half of his roll from lunch. The thermos was nearly empty. And he still had almost 10kms still to walk. It would be easier to walk at night, with the cooler air and no sun. Adam shouldered his bag, and left the clearing.