It all begins on a Sunday afternoon; the sun is setting casting long shadows on the forest trail. You are walking slowly enjoying the crisp evening air. You smile as you walk knowing the clearing is right around the corner. This is your safe spot where you go to shut the world out. It’s always quite and tonight you feel at peace. When you get to the clearing you run to your favorite tree and sit under its branches. You tilt your head back and breath deep and lose yourself in your thoughts. You are so at peace you don’t hear the footsteps of someone approaching.
A wrong step causes a twig to snap, startled you look up to see me standing in front of you. You have never seen anyone else on this trail or in this field. You speak almost shouting in shock “what are you doing here.” I look surprised and ask the same thing back, “this is where I always come to think, you are in my spot.” As I speak you can’t stop yourself from looking me over, you start from my feet and work your way up slowly, as if you are sizing me up, your gaze finally meets mine and locks for a moment longer then normal. You silently contemplate what to do next, do you ask me to leave or do you leave or do you risk it and ask me to stay?