The Other Side of the Street

Other Side has no human homes, warm lights or tasty treats. On Samhain night a dense forest shows itself to those willing to taste the unfamiliar.

You cross the street.
Leave the known.
Find your new home.

Feel the rough skin of ancient trees against your fresh skin. Let the earth and moss take over your taste buds and wrinkle your nose.

Tune your ears to the invisible creatures stalking paths so close and yet impossible for you to find.

Bring your hands to your face. Adjust your eyes to your new surroundings. Even in the dark there are things to see.

Fluorescent fungi. Yellow eyes. A moonlight-kissed canopy holding up the sky.

Look at how they act across the street. Sheep. Sitting. Watching other sheep sitting chatting about nothing. Masticating is their hot house.

We’re different here.

In time, new becomes normal. You’ve been in the forest for months but for the street it’s only been minutes. Nobody misses you because they don’t know they need to miss you.

You will return to the street. But you’ll need time to readjust. You won’t like your family anymore. You will long to be back in our embrace.

Street you is not the original you. The other one is still wandering the forest. At day break, the forest will disappear for another year.

*

You glance out of the window. Catch your breath. Yellow eyes drink in your life from across the street.