yourself to stand up

You call upon your reserve of strength as you regain your stance and move forward with the creature into the night. Walking along side your new companion in the silence, you begin to enjoy the night’s splendor. You can hear all the music of the life of the forest as you continue, a soft cool breeze brushing strands of hair upon your cheek. The moon begins to shine through breaks in the canopy as your dangling hands accidentally touch the fawn beside you.

The creature stops suddenly and looks up at you for a long moment, the moonlight glinting from the corners of its glassy eyes. The deer purposefully fixes its gaze back towards the path as you match its view. In the distance you can make out a soft golden glow silhouetting the leaves before you. Then, without warning, the fawn leaps from the path into the forest leaving you to continue on your own.

You stand there for some time wondering what you should do as the forest continues to quietly clamor around you. The light ahead is soft and warm, almost inviting, but you hesitate to make this discovery without your nimble guide. Your body begins to ache once again in its stillness until you attempt to fix your courage and proceeded along the trail towards the shimmering fauna.