As far as the eye can see, green dense forests fill my vision. The sound of bells catches my attention as my eyes dart around.
'Where is it?' The light sound is joined by deep laughter as I look around more. My feet take off, adrenaline propelling me forward as the noise moves further into the forest. The feeling of thorns and flowers brushing against my legs reminded me of the urgency of the chase. The faster I pump my legs, the further they run, and my breathing grows heavier as I try to keep up. My chest feels tight as my brain grows fuzzy. The forest grows darker the faster the sound runs and my vision grows fuzzy at the edges. But I refuse to give up. “Please wait!” I call out, my voice echoing in the void.
I call out in the darkness for the light, my voice echoing in the void. “Don’t leave…” The words hang in the air, lost in the darkness.
A dark fog encircles my eyes as the light flees farther into the forest. With each stretch of its limbs, I feel life and joy fading.
The verdant forest fades away as darkness turns bright red and orange. A steady rumble pulls my thoughts into the present. I open my eyes to find Lugh sitting on my chest, his glowing eyes peering into me. His presence brings a wave of relief, dispelling the lingering unease from the dream, like a warm blanket on a lonely night.
“Good morning, my boy.” I smile as he butts his head softly into mine, his usual greeting drawing a laugh. A silent plea for food, “Alright.” I get up from the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath my feet, and head to the kitchen to prepare Lugh's breakfast.
I pull my arm out of my comforter, slide it under his belly, and ease him to the edge of the bed. His tiny meows of protest fill the quiet air as he jumps down. The rest of my achy body was going to be a challenge.
“Why?... Do my legs hurt?” I toss the question and push my leaden legs out of the covers. My legs ache as if I've just run a mile, a sensation I haven’t felt since high school. As my legs untangle from the covers, I look down to expect some redness or rash, only to find cuts, a painful reminder of the dream I just had.
Like the cuts, I used to get from running in the forest. I look down in confusion, but that must be dealt with later.
Food comes first. I stand on my marked legs and walk out of my tiny bedroom into my living room. The dark walls make finding my way through the silent home harder. Lugh calls out behind me as I use my hand to feel out the wall for the switch. Once my hand makes contact, I flip the cold plastic lever up. A bright artificial light floods my small living room, pulling a groan from the bottom of my soul. Lugh meows his disdain as well, complaining loudly.
“Ha, and you're telling me?” I walk over to the conjoined kitchen and pull out a can of wet food. I quickly pop it open and drop it into a slow-feed bowl. Lugh trots over to the bowl. The enthusiastic sound of him chowing down fills the air as I take care of the can and wash my hands. I turn to the small window to see pink and purple dance across the sky as they welcome the sun to the dance. Its presence just peaking above the horizon. The gentle glow of the soft light envelops the room, casting a soothing ambiance that eases the strain on my tired eyes. I shiver slightly, feeling the frigid air prickling against my skin, causing it to tingle and bristle with goosebumps. But now, I feel a deep connection to the natural world, a sense of tranquility and harmony that only the dawn can bring.
A feeling of peace lingers in the air as I look on at the rising sun.
“Maybe I should take a day off.” I look down at my rough hands, used to handle papers continuously.
They used to be rough from climbing trees. I look back up to the sun and stop when the first rays of sunlight shine down onto a golden coin placed on my windowsill.
“When did? I raise my arms, feeling the chill in the air as I place them under the window hatch and exert upward force. As I lift, a burst of cold air rushes in, carrying with it the distinct scent of damp peat and a tinge of ozone, like the aftermath of a thunderstorm. The smell instantly transports me to a vivid memory of my grandmother standing on the rugged cliffs. Her lips curved into a wide grin, her eyes gleaming with untamed excitement. My fingers close around the coin, and I can feel its warmth seeping into my palm, akin to the comforting touch of the sun's gentle rays. I smile as my decision is made; I turn around with a bright smile to Lugh. “Looks like we're going on an adventure, my boy.”
