Inevitable Jungle

In the forest where no one may pass but you… you think you're all alone, but you never really are. You reluctantly take your first steps into the woods and hope the short but seemingly long journey would pass in peace. You start the trip with heavy steps; wishing that each one will take you back to where you started instead of forward to where you should be.

Walking slowly through the entwined trees; your mind is distracted by the noise of the hissing animals, croaking insects and trees brushing against each other and against you. However, you're trying focus on the wrinkled map of the jungle ahead of you so as not to lose your way. You hear a loud screech and a sudden bump near you and look to your right to find two chimpanzees fighting their heads off! You stand there; intrigued to watch, wondering what the reason behind the fight is; but you decide that it's best to keep going, as time is always catching up with you.

A few moments later, you sense heavy movement behind you, and there seems to be a muffled roar…you're not sure, but you take a turn and decide to head down a different route just to be safe. The trees are intense, thorny and very tricky to walk through; the pace you are moving at makes you feel like you're crawling; and your muscles are starting to strain. Your neck is hurting from trying to look far ahead and your legs are almost cramped from going up and down on the uneven earth. But you will yourself to move on, as you made a promise you would be there. You reach a small clearing in the woods and you speed up a little, careful not to go too fast for fear of falling into a trap. The noises around you are getting so familiar that your head gets numb after a while. It seems they have become a part of your being; like a whistle in your ear, or a static sound at the back of your head that never goes away.

Your heartbeat starts going faster as you realize you're almost there, and the numbness slowly fades. The small hut lays there, predictable as ever; and you enter cautiously, hoping not to find any surprises. You're welcomed by the peaceful little animals and insects moving around, so busy with their work. You sit in a corner and try to regain your drained energy, only to find them all squeaking at once, trying to tell you something; each in a different a pitch, each with a different tempo, and each striking at a different cell in your brain, that you can't hear yourself think. You want to scream out loud, but you can't open your mouth - except to breath.

They calm down one by one and you finally get in touch with your thoughts again; you feel your limbs and your pulse relaxing, and you begin doing what you were summoned here to do…

You take a break after long hours and walk around the hut to release your stress. Your mind wanders, aimlessly reflecting on the past and thinking about the future. You wonder if this is what you wanted, if where you are now is where you have always dreamed of going; and if the forest has even more in store for you. The paths you have taken could very well be wrong, and many would not agree to them; but you have faith in yourself and you know what you are doing – most of the time at least.

You drag yourself back inside the hut, sit in your place and enjoy the murmuring of the animals and insects; admitting to yourself that their presence actually makes life there a little more enjoyable.

The time comes when you have to make your way back into the ugly woods. You feel so heavy, like the gravity has multiplied and you're grounded to your place. However, you force your body to get up and move, promising yourself that despite the viciousness of the forest ahead, you will find your way back to comfort.