Entry #81

Forest For the Trees
by Roberta Nolte


She looked up painfully, remarking to herself that she could even see. All she could make out through her bloodied eyes was the tree stand. Light filtered through it as if everything was all right.

Nothing was all right - nothing at all.

She’d taken the right path on her run, turned left at the sign and plodded down the path. Her music pressed her onward. She listened to solid rock, mostly, a little soul. There was nothing too aggressive.

Raising herself from the mud pile, she regretted not listening to something more aggressive.

Running along, she made the south end curve and something hit her from the side, knocking her down.

In separate attacks, she felt as if she was being pummeled again and again.

She was helpless. Not knowing what she could do to protect herself, she rolled into a ball and played dead. After a while, she passed out.

“Who could do this to me!” she said as she began to unroll and assess her injuries.

Across the path, several doe stood eating grass with their fawns, completely unfazed.

She moved slowly from the ground and pulled her slight figure from the mud. Searching the light she found her way south.

She didn’t hesitate flipping the doe the bird on her way out of the woods.