Prompt Pot Luck-story
prompt by: gracefuldemon
The wind blew her scarf into the woods - woods that had not been there that morning. Going against her instincts, she stopped at the edge of the trees, listening. Either go in and get it, or walk away, she told herself. Work would not wait, so if she didn’t want to let the world see her coffee-stained blouse, she had to retrieve her scarf. But indecision held her feet on an invisible line in the park grass, her hands gripping her purse tight enough to break the winter-dried skin of her knuckles. She could see the far side of the greenery, thin grey sunlight filtering through the pale brown of the branches. Aside from their inexplicable nonexistence before, they were the least threatening aspect of the calm, bare park. A few dead leaves fluttered near her scarf, which had caught on a jagged branch. Just out of her reach, forcing her to step into the forest to retrieve it. She would just slip in and go; she was nearly late as it was. Only a single step, and she’d pulled the gauzy material off the tree, snagging enough threads to have frustrated her in any other moment. She turned and circled a large tree, feet crunching on the multitude of dead foliage around her. Only a little ways to the park, she had places to go. Just around these trees to get back to the park. She didn’t want to be late. Her hand brushed aside branches as she walked toward the light of the park. Just a few more steps, and she’d be back. The park only sat just before her. Beyond these trees and she’d be back. Only a short space left to cross; she couldn’t be late for something. She had to go back, back to where she’d come from. Just past this clump of trees, that’s where she needed to go. She had to return… just beyond the trees… just past the woods… just beyond…