Forest
"Where are you going?" Alisha stopped in her tracks, not knowing where she was headed or what was happening. She had been walking, stopping, then walking again for so long she couldn't even count it.
She looked back and saw a woman staring at her, giving her weird looks, which wasn't surprising given her appearance. She looked worse than a homeless person, her wedding dress torn, bare feet, mud-covered face, and hair tangled like a nest. Cuts and dried blood adorned her arms from broken glass.
On top of it all, she had no sense of direction, just walking, running, and stumbling, dreading the moment Alice would find her.
Now she found herself in the middle of what seemed like a forest, an odd place for a woman to be alone, and she had no idea how she got there.
"I'm taking a walk."
"Huh?" The lady walked toward Alisha, making her nervous.
"Don't come closer, I'm just lost and I don't know where I am. Please, don't hurt me," Alisha panicked, her throat dry from lack of water and food all day, the evening air chilling her to the bone.
"I'm not going to hurt you, just stay still," the lady said, coming closer and peering into Alisha's eyes as if searching her soul.
'Why is she looking at me like that?' Alisha wondered, trying to understand the strange woman's intense gaze.
Already on the verge of fainting, Alisha felt the exhaustion hitting her full force now that she wasn't moving. When she was walking and running, the adrenaline kept her going, but now, reality sank in, and she felt like her body was about to collapse.
As the woman approached, Alisha could feel her legs trembling, the fatigue overwhelming her. She struggled to stay upright, her vision blurring at the edges.
"Just breathe," the woman said softly, reaching out a hand to steady Alisha.
Alisha flinched, but the woman's touch was surprisingly gentle. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to gather her thoughts.
"What's your name?" the woman asked, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Alisha," she managed to whisper, her voice hoarse.
"Well, Alisha. Let's get you somewhere safe," the woman said, guiding Alisha to sit on a nearby fallen log.
Alisha sank down gratefully, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her. She watched as the woman rummaged through her bag, pulling out a water bottle and some snacks.
"Here, drink this," the woman said, handing Alisha the water bottle.
Alisha drank greedily, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. She then accepted the snacks, grateful for the sustenance.
"Thank you," she said weakly, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the chaos.
The woman smiled kindly. "Don't mention it. We all need help sometimes."
Alisha didn't even know why she was accepting help from a stranger, or why she was drinking and eating what the lady offered.
But what choice did she have? Stranded in the middle of the forest with no direction, she knew she'd die if she continued in this aimless loop.
She didn't understand why this woman was being kind, but she knew one thing: she didn't want to die. She ran from Alice because she wanted to live and fulfill her dreams, and dying of hunger and fatigue in the forest wasn't part of the plan.
"My name is Maya. I live in this forest. My house is nearby. Do you want to come?" Maya introduced herself as she asked.
"You live in the forest? It's such a wild place. How do you manage here?" Alisha inquired.
"We have our own space and everything we need here. Sometimes in the wild, you find peace. Not just me, but a lot of people live nearby," Maya explained, her eyes still lingering on Alisha's wounds with suspicion.
Alisha didn't understand why Maya was giving her that look, as if she were some sort of specimen to be examined. It made her uncomfortable, but not uncomfortably so.
Still, Alisha didn't have the best judgement of people. She always thought everyone was good, but after dealing with Alice, she started doubting that theory.
"You have nowhere to go, and with so many wounds, it will be tough. How about you rest at my house? I'll call a doctor for you, and then I can send you back wherever you want to go," Maya offered.
But despite her doubts, Alisha found Maya's offer too tempting to refuse.
"Okay, I'll come with you," Alisha said, grateful for the chance to rest and gather her strength.
Maya nodded and offered Alisha a hand to help her up. With Maya's assistance, Alisha managed to stand, though her legs still felt weak.
As they walked through the forest, Alisha couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She glanced around nervously, half-expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows.
"Is someone following us?" Alisha asked, her voice trembling.
Maya glanced over her shoulder, then shook her head. "No, it's just your imagination. There's no one here but us."
But Alisha wasn't convinced. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed, that someone or something was lurking just out of sight.
Despite her unease, Alisha followed Maya deeper into the forest, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what awaited her at Maya's house, but at this point, she was willing to take her chances. Anything was better than being alone in the wilderness.
‘I feel like someone is following us,’ Alisha thought, unable to shake off the unsettling feeling.
"Don't be scared," Maya said softly, squeezing Alisha's hand gently, careful not to hurt any wounds. "I know I'm a stranger, but sometimes in unfamiliar places, with unfamiliar people, we find the truest version of ourselves."
Alisha looked at Maya, not fully grasping her words, but finding comfort in them nonetheless. Perhaps it was better than being eaten alive by wild animals in the forest, or dying of hunger, or returning to the life she fled from with Alice.
Anything was better than living with Alice, even death.
With Maya's reassurance, Alisha allowed herself to relax slightly, the tension in her shoulders easing.
As they continued through the forest, Alisha couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs sent shivers down her spine.
Maya noticed Alisha's unease and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Alisha. We're almost there," Maya said, her voice calm and soothing.
Alisha nodded, trying to push aside her fears. She had come too far to turn back now. Whatever lay ahead, she was determined to face it head-on.
Finally, they reached Maya's house—a quaint cabin nestled deep in the woods. It looked cosy and inviting, a stark contrast to the harsh wilderness outside.
As they stepped inside, Alisha couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She was safe, at least for now.
“Who?”
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