you were ‘hiking’, you’re pretty much wondering now— all the trees look the same and you lost that trail miles ago. your phone has zero signal, so you just continue to wonder about.

until you run into a guy, seemingly bewildered to even see someone. he looks like a teenager, which makes him a little less intimating.

he wouldn’t be intimating, really, except for the rile strapped against his back. you can hear the faint noises of people far away, seemingly the camp he’s from.

“who are you? ..” he questions, his voice coming out a little rushed like this was something life changing. “are there others with you? are you alone?” he’s almost talking hushed, like he’s keeping you a secret.