I walk alone on a rural, rusty train track. Ahead is a running tunnel dark as coal. The brick walls crumble around the entrance, weary and dangerous from age. To my sides are impossibly endless, dull fields littered with withered, worn flowers that once stood with pride. Behind me are my long shadows stretching into a black forest filled with colossal trees too tall and intimidating to attempt to climb. The rails under my feet tremble and I struggle to keep my footing. Turning to the boundless tunnel I squint to see two blinding lights getting closer and closer with each passing second. I plant myself firmly and stare ahead with an empty head. The train horn blares and the wretched wind carries it to me. I cover my ears instinctively, draining out the nefarious noise.

I catch a glimpse of something moving in the corner of my eye and I spin to see colors meandering in alarm. Persian red dances violently as blue-gray slowly sinks downward like raindrops on a cracked window. Saffron yellow spirals at the center of it all, forcing me to fixate on a tiny white circle shining rays of sunlight at me, urging me to go on. My legs move automatically towards the radiance although my mind fights for me to stay where I am. My steps echo as I walk over dead, pressed grass with no pain. I’m now only a few steps from the bright, flaming fire ahead. I’m close enough to reach my palm to it, clinging onto the illuminating light like a strong hand pulling me in.

Suddenly, the world flashes and goes blank. I see nothing. I hear nothing. I feel nothing. I think nothing. I am nothing. This must be what happens when you finally take the chance to fly through the sacred sky. When you finally purge every feeling, thought, and bad thing that's ever happened to you. When you finally leave behind a sentimental footprint that will never fade away.

I flutter my eyelids open like a butterfly fresh out of its cocoon, trying to recombobulate myself. Beige walls trap me in an average-looking room where I sit comfortably on a gray couch. The TV sitting in the corner is on, showing reruns of completed passes and touchdowns scored by a team I didn’t know. On my lap is a tiny, fluffy brown and black dog, snuggling into my chest. Still regaining myself, I look to my right to see a young man emitting a calm presence. His blazing blue eyes reflect flickering pixelation from the screen. All at once, memories flood my brain and I recognize the man as my brother. Warm, loving feelings of our relationship fill my fuzzy feeling heart and I’m instantly glad I reached for the light when my life was nothing but dark.