Page 45 of Sage Haven

Fingers restless.

Heart pounding in my ears, and then I moved, because if I didn’t, I would implode.

I followed the pull.

Out the door. Through the trees. To the field.

The air buzzed with life.

Fireflies floated around me, tiny stars flickering in the growing dark.

Their light was delicate, faint and beautiful, like something that could easily be dimmed.

I took a breath, letting it expand in my lungs.

For a moment, the world slowed.

I smiled softly, my fingers brushing the tops of the wildflowers as I passed.

I had never come to the field this late.

Never this close to night, but I was glad I did.

It wasn’t part of my routine and that was the point.

The risk made me feel alive.

The danger of the woods at night—

The memories it stirred—

They didn’t scare me in the same way anymore.

They made me feel something and I was tired of feeling nothing for so long.

I let myself wander deeper.

Drawn to the flowers swaying in the wind, their colors vivid even in the low nightlight.

They stretched toward me like an invitation.

I bent down, gathering them slowly.

Gentle and careful, as if I was afraid that they might vanish if I wasn’t.

The sound of crickets filled the air.

Soft and constant, like a lullaby spun from the hush between breaths.

I closed my eyes. Let myself just be there.

Let myself exist.

But it was only for a brief moment, because suddenly I felt like I wasn’t alone like I thought I was.

I could feel it, even though I couldn’t quite see it yet.

The unmistakable weight of being watched.