In my head there are trees of fears in the forest of doubts and they’ve been there for so long that some of them have tire swings

The trees too tall and the path so thin that I get lost in the darkness of the leafy sea that I’m sinking in

I’m suddenly lost so I do what I was told and hug a tree for some reason hoping that maybe someone else is lost here too

But I’m the end I’m alone so I’ll water this tree with my tears and hope that someone will remember me when I’m gone

But a man shows up with an ax and a smile and starts hacking away at all of the branches and parts that reach

He chops and he chops and the leaves fall like a bridal veil over the rot laden floor, caressing it’s contours like a sleeping lover

Wood creaks and moans as it succumbs to the the blade, smashing its body into the ground it never wanted to meet

The molded and frayed knots that once held the swings snap and fall like a downed falcon to its final resting place

The forest is no more, only remnants of memories of what was here with leaves and wood slashed and torn and dying

I look up and can see the man with the ax and the smile as he says he’s been looking for a girl that looked like me

My hand reaches for his as I begin to cry “I was so lost” his hand grasps mine “you’re never lost, just finding a new path”