I awoke to the sound of rushing water surrounded by fluffy green grass. I opened my eyes, but I quickly shielded them with the back of my hand from the bright sunlight. When I sat up I almost hit my head on the tree trunk behind me. I sat beneath the tree for a few minutes trying to assess how I got here in the first place. With my head now resting against the white Dogwood, and my eyes now in the shade I was finally able to analyze my surroundings. I was sitting in the most beautiful field of flowers I have ever seen. I decided to take a walk around in order to get a better look at everything.

As I walked across the dirt path eroded along the ground, the ambrosial scent of the various flowers filled my mind making me slightly dizzy. The bright-colored petals shocked me up close. I had never seen something so vibrant. It was as if the whole thing was a dream. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could feel a light breeze across my face, and I heard the trickle of the stream mixed with the rattling of the leaves on the trees. I opened my eyes again and was still in awe over the mystical sight in front of me. The sun was so warm and bright that I had to shield my eyes to see clearly. 

All of the trees looked perfect, like those drawings in cartoons. I could just imagine the mother bird feeding her babies in her faultlessly made nest, but I couldn’t seem to find any. I looked a while longer, but I heard no chirping so I decided to move on. 

I made my way over to the stream of water. There I found a small waterfall that glistened like the stars in the night sky. I followed the trickling creek a bit more. The water was entirely transparent. I could see all of the little pebbles that lined the bottom. There were small red ones, big gray ones, square ones, round ones, and multi-colored spotted ones. I hesitantly stepped into the water. It was cold, but not “the night of the Titanic” type of cold, but instead the “nice refreshing glass of water after going on a long run” type of cold. I watched as the water formed ripples around my ankles, the flowing water felt funny gliding over each of my toes. It almost felt as if a million little fish were rushing over me. 

Suddenly I realized there were no fish. There were no turtles or frogs. I didn’t even hear any birds chirping or bees humming. I saw no butterflies or worms or ladybugs trudging across the flower petals. The place was completely desolate of any other cognizant life. I was alone. 

The fear suddenly eclipsed all of the serenity I had just felt. I quickly got out of the stream and ran across the fields. The dirt coated the bottom of my wet feet, but I paid no mind to it. The jagged rocks bit at my soles but I didn’t care. I wanted to get out of here. The more I ran the more I got lost. The red tulips had suddenly turned into bright blue delphiniums and the dogwoods turned into magnolia trees. A rush of panic overtook me. My breathing became extremely heavy. My heart was beating at an exceedingly unhealthy rate. I kept running even through the tears forming in my eyes, but suddenly everything had come to a halt. I stopped and once again looked at my surroundings. The delphiniums were replaced with red tulips again, and all of the trees returned to dogwoods. I had sworn I didn’t change directions, but I was exactly where I started. I was sure of it. I ran a bit further and noticed the fields changing again back into the blue delphiniums, then just a few minutes later they were tulips again. I ran over to one of the trees only to find that the imprint I had left from sleeping was still there. It was impossible. I had been running for hours and yet I was right back where I started. The sun hadn’t moved even an inch, but by now it should have been dark out. I collapsed to my knees beneath the shade of the tree. The tears ran down my face uncontrollably as it set in how hopeless my situation was. My heart ached and my feet were sore from the miles of running. The soft green grass suddenly felt less comforting and more like a nightmare. My eyes were stinging, and I’m sure they were bright red to match the feeling. My hands were shaking through the panic and my fingers went cold and numb. My head was pounding almost as much as my heart. I tried taking three deep breaths, but the panic continued its reign over me. Eventually, I think my body just gave up and I collapsed. 

Then I awoke to the sound of rushing water surrounded by fluffy green grass. I opened my eyes, but I quickly shielded them with the back of my hand from the bright sunlight. When I sat up I almost hit my head on the tree trunk behind me. I sat beneath the tree for a few minutes trying to assess how I got here in the first place. With my head now resting against the white Dogwood, and my eyes now in the shade I was finally able to analyze my surroundings. I was sitting in the most beautiful field of flowers I have ever seen. I decided to take a walk around in order to get a better look at everything.