Where Are You Going?

Lost and alone, a young girl grew weary.

She had been traveling through the woods for quite some time.

Depleted, she sat by a creek and slipped off her shoes, letting her feet rest in the cool water.

As she looked up, a dragon appeared before her.

“Where are you going, girl?” the dragon asked.

“I can’t remember,” she replied.

“And where do you come from?”

“I can’t remember that either.”

The dragon smirked. “A girl who remembers nothing and has nowhere to go is worth nothing. Why should I let you live? I should simply eat you up.”

He leaned in for his first bite.

Afraid, she closed her eyes.

She could feel his hot breath on her face.

It smelled like smoke and rotting flesh.

The smell was repulsive, but it woke up something within her.

Suddenly, she heard birds singing throughout the forest.

She felt the cool water rushing over her feet.

And beneath it all, she felt it—

The quiet rhythm of life.

In that moment, the girl remembered everything.

Cleansing tears drenched her cheeks.

She began blinking them away.

When she opened her eyes, the dragon was gone.

And in his place was a new path—lit by the pulse of her own heartbeat.