The curse that tore the mind

Don´t go into the woods my dear, don´t go into the woods. For in the woods is a curse you see, hiding in every nook. Those who ignored it could not let it be, and those where the ones who were took. The curse is one that is strange and unfair, a beast with a most unwelcoming glare. To go into the woods is a folly, to everyone that is clear. So don’t go into the woods, you hear? Don’t go into the woods, my dear.

Amanda shook her head as she remembered the old rhyme she was told so many times as a child. She did not want to. Everyone knew that the woods were forbidden for a reason. And she did not want to enter among the beasts and the dark. But what choice did she have? For the most precious one to her was now among the taken. With shaking hands she glanced down, compass in one, lantern in the other. She looked back over her shoulder at the village in which she had spent her entire life. As she closed her eyes she took a deep breath, tightened the grip on her items and took the final step over the forbidden line into the dark of the woods.

As she opened her eyes she was surprised at the quiet and calm of the woods. It was dark, yes, but not unpleasant. She thought it was almost welcoming, like the woods wanted her there, wanted her to stay and enjoy her visit. Again, she shook her head in an attempt to clear it. With tentative steps she walked further in amongst the trees, at first carefully and consciously quiet. Before long, she noticed herself walking more casually and not with as much consideration to the steps. She tried to look about, to search for her quarry, but her focus and her thoughts attempted to flee her, again and again, leaving her head pleasantly empty. The quiet of the woods, not dissipating for any critter or creak, disturbing as it was as a phenomenon it could not catch her attention for long enough to ponder on. She knew of this, but could not change it. She had enough difficulty keeping her reason for being here in focus. She needed to find him. To find…. Someone. Who? Brown eyes, glittering of mischief. Brown hair, flying about in the wind. Small feet, running faster and faster around the village. Small hands, small arms, a hug so lovely. But who… She could no longer recall. And still she persisted. She had to, for it was all she knew now. It was her reason for being. Her brain refused to hold the memories, the experiences, the things that made up her. Don´t go into the woods, my dear. Why? She was here now and it was lovely. Such a pleasant temperature, soft ground, no harsh lights. Didn´t she have a light? She did not remember and her hands were now empty. She fleetingly remembered hearing about a curse in these woods, but she saw now that it couldn´t be true. Such a lovely forest could not mean any harm. Half stopping, she dragged her hand along the bark of a tree. The tree moved under her hand, appreciating the warmth of her. She could sense the hunger in it but chose to ignore it. And the tree did not come for her. After all, the trees were her friends. She knew that. She always knew that. But she had to keep searching. For the someone, the someone with the small hands and the heartwarming giggle that drifted through the night air.

She did not notice when she lost her jacket. And indeed, she did not notice when she lost her blouse, or her shoes. Then her skirt. At some point she merely registered that she had naught on but her underwear. But she did not feel shame and she did not feel the cold, for this was her home where she could wear what she wanted and the temperature was just right. This was her home where she had been forever and where all of her friends are. Her friends that were the trees, of course, but also the dark and fast creatures that moved about in the periphery. Maybe she should be scared, but why? After all, they are her friends and this is her home. She started pondering if she should stop for the night, if it was night, and how long had she been here anyway? Just as she came to the conclusion that it probably was night and she should stop and sleep, she saw it, fast, hard to see, and quick in the corner of her eye. Brown hair, tiny feet running on the moss of the forest floor. She did not know why but she ran. She must catch him, she must find him. She did not know who or why, but find him she must. So she ran and ran, but he ran just as fast. She tore up her feet and legs but she did not feel. She fed the forest with the blood she spilled, but she did not notice. Running faster and harder than ever, she struggled to keep him in her sights. He turned, and she followed. He turned again, and again she took the same turn. He turned a third time, but this time she could not follow. She fell, loosing him from her sight and scraping her knees. As she writhed on the forest floor she suddenly felt fear, for she knew this forest would eat her if she stayed still for too long. So she quickly got up but could not see him. She looked about, behind trees and rocks, but still nothing. So then, at the end of hope and sanity, she gave up. She finally let out the tears she had been pushing down and felt the sorrow she had suppressed. As she fell to her knees and pondered giving her life to the woods, she heard it.

“Mom?”. She looked up in chock, and there he was. Beautiful as the first day he saw the world. Sitting on a stump, merely feet from her. On her knees, she crawled to him, the pain she had ignored resonating up through her legs. As she got to him she threw her arms around him, the tears increasing in volume but now partly caused by joy. She carefully touched his cheek and met his gaze, and she could almost see her love for him reflected there.

As she looked into his eyes however, she knew. She knew this was not her son, for she could sense the size of the beast hiding behind his frail being, and she could feel the fur and cold under her fingers if she focused. But she did not care, for if she thought about it for too long, she knew what it would mean for the beast to appear to her in this form. So she released her thoughts and pain and willingly succumbed to wonderful bliss. She had found her son, and now they would be together forever.