10 Comments
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Scoot's avatar

I am imagining this in an illustrated childrens book format (but not for kids). As the pages turn, the illustrations degrade into rough and vaguely haunting sketches. From “the hungry caterpillar” to “amped up spot from across the spiderverse.”

Then the dog shows up and its a sunny, friendly childrens book again.

The way you told this was unnerving but deliberately so. This was a really unique experience! Very well done!

Bridget Riley's avatar

This one had me wondering what Maggie was really seeing and worried about how it would end! My initial theory was that she was already dead, but I’m so glad I turned out to be wrong!

Evelyn K. Brunswick's avatar

The already dead thing passed through my own mind too, given I'm a big one for afterlife stuff...

🌸 Carolyn Jones 🌸's avatar

Loved this! Thanks for the insight at the end too! 🍁🧡🍁

Rosie Wells's avatar

I've recently gotten hooked on learning about these lost-in-the-National-Parks cases... people like Eloise Lindsey and Evangeline Lorimer and Trenny Gibson and many others. So when I started reading this my first thought was, "Oh wow, this reminds me of Eloise Lindsey's story--" What a spooky imagining of that kind of scenario! (Though, I will admit I expected her to have turned into a bird at some point, a la Ivy & Ixos!)

Bryan Pirolli's avatar

So much great movement here. Got pushed right along and felt those blisters forming in my boots...!

Frank's avatar

Loved it, with the unexpected twist of a happy happy ending! Surprised! Somehow I missed this story when originally posted. Glad I found it...

Linda Cardillo's avatar

Excellent build up to ultimate end.

Nick Winney's avatar

based on a true story... always love that line!

Andy Futuro's avatar

Even on a social trail like the AT it is extremely easy to get lost and once off trail your errors compound exponentially.