Homelessness wasn’t necessarily a choice, more like a side-effect to an inexplicable and undiagnosable condition, to quench her wanderlust, she made a point to live her life as an eternal camping trip. She’d explore and document local campsites, find out of the way spots to rest her head, usually ones which provided a source of water and security.

This time she wandered further than her usual hike off the beaten path, the sun had started to set behind an unmarked brook. Despite her lack of familiarity, figured this was a safe enough spot, set up her small campsite and, just as quickly, lost her battle with sleep.

When she awoke there was a haze, a light fog that made her small fire seem to glow eerily, the smoke lingered. The ash whipped around her like stars bursting as they passed. Each floating off on their own but never quite dissipating.

She couldn’t focus on that, fog wasn’t good for photography, nor was it safe so she packed her things and worked her way back to the trail. A feeling of lucid dreaming took over her, clouding her thoughts. She chocked it up to her senses dulled from a rough night’s sleep.

The further she walked, the more desire she had to turn back, to rest a bit longer within the trees, but she continued ambling on as she could. Attempting to return to normalcy and not the inexplicable feeling of guilt she had leaving this strange forest.

The further she walked, the more the feeling tugged at her, a pressure building within her chest. She reached the edge, where the marked path began again and as if touching the stoned pathway triggered a reaction within her, the pressure came to a head, a bursting feeling in her ears shocked her entire system.

Dread, an unshakable fear and panic dawned on her, the way one feels after hearing an explosion. A ringing in her ears, she looked around searching for what could’ve caused the sound. Nothing for miles. She ran, the further she got the louder the ringing, but her legs refused to slow.