A walk to work

Monday, it’s a pleasant autumnal morning. The warmth of summer has faded, and there’s a crisp feel to the air. The sun will soon frighten that chill away, but it adds a welcome bite. Soon, the bite will become more insidious, more unwelcome, and will be accompanied by rain and gloom. This morning is perfect for the shortcut through the woods.

You give yourself five more minutes in bed, and a few more lazy minutes preparing for the workday. Then you set off.

The trees are still green, although the first signs of autumn speckle their colour. The song of birds still entertains you. There’s a rustle in the undergrowth, young foxes exploring the environment, or maybe a hedgehog preparing for winter, or mice scurrying for warmth. Sounds too much for any of those. Maybe a deer. It’s not unknown to see a deer in the woods, although rare. You should keep an eye out.

And then you see her. She’s standing half-obscured by a tree, half-obscured by a bush, easily looked over until you identify her. Short, pale face, long black hair, a dress the colour of autumn, age indeterminate from this distance. It’s her nose ring that gives her away. For a moment the wind parts the foliage, and a shaft of sunlight catches the silver of the ring. It’s like a signal. Once you see her, you can’t dismiss the sight. She doesn’t just have a nose ring; she has a ring through her top lip as well. Silver as well. She’s looking at you with her brown eyes. No, not looking staring. There’s something uncomfortable in the way she’s staring.

You don’t recognise her. She’s not one of your students. She’s not wearing a school uniform. {if LaylaDream > 0} Actually there is something familiar about her. You have seen her somewhere, but you can’t remember where.{endif}

You turn your gaze away and take a few more steps. Then you look back. She’s still there, a mysterious presence in the woods, watching you. Her gaze makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The look in her brown eyes is dark and challenging.

“Can I help you?”

Your voice breaks her stare. She’s looks surprised. Shocked. She glances around, as if seeking someone else. When she doesn’t see them, she turns her gaze back to you. You turn and take a few steps towards her.

Panic crosses her pale, oval face. A few more steps and she turns and runs.

“Hey,” you shout out to her. You have to follow. You feel compelled. You’re faster than her, but she knows the terrain. She dips behind a tree. She takes a route through bushes. Your initial pursuit closed the distance, but the longer it lasts the further away she gets, until she vanishes among the trees.

You stop and take several breaths. Whoever she is, whatever she’s up to, she doesn’t want to be found. Leave her to it.

Where are you? In the woods. In part of the woods you don’t recognise. How do you get back? Follow your trail, except you’re not a tracker. You only vaguely know which way you came. You stumble between trees, suddenly frightened you’ll get lost. No, don’t be silly. You can’t get lost. The woods aren’t that big. They feel it, though, for a moment. They feel it until you find your way to a recognisable street, and you can walk the last few minutes to school.

By then you’re late, too late to join assembly.