Nothing to Fear

[SlightlySane]

He was walking through the woods trying to find his way back to camp. Alone he wondered in chilly September weather. The buddy system you ask? Well usually that's a must when camping, however, his buddies thought it would be okay to leave him as he used the latrine. He was at least a mile out from his camp site, but without a map or compass he was totally lost. Sure there were trail signs, but the moonlight isn't enough to see them after once the batteries have died in your flashlight. He wondered for what seemed like an hour. All the trees look the same in the dark. Normally he wouldn't be so scared. Yet, with every noise his heart seemed to leap from his chest as though it was ready to abandon him like his friends had. He at least knew he was on a trail, and luckily it was a clear starry night so he could keep to it. He had thought about searching for another camp site. Maybe he would keep a look out for a camp fire. Then he remembered, all camp fires must be put out at 10:30 and he had left camp at 10:15. Maybe he could yell... "Would that work," he wondered. He was too frightened by a sense that someone or something was following him. It was simply a wooded area though, the biggest thing couldn't be much more than a deer. Still he couldn't find it within himself to yell for help. His heart was beating much too fast and he couldn't gather the breath to be loud enough for anyone to hear. He paused for a moment and turned in a quick circle. He prayed for a way, something that would lead him back to his camp site. The trail had dead ended, he could only turn around and start again. A chill ran up his spine sending adrenaline rushing through his blood. He could feel it pumping through him preparing his brain for the fight or flight response. Still he was unsure of what was frightening him so much. He heart was racing at a pace that brought agony to his chest. He collapsed to one need and grabbed at his lungs. It was almost as if they had forgotten how to use the oxygen he was taking in in gulps. Straining his eyes as hard as he could he looked for what may be frightening him. Nothing, he could see absolutely nothing. Even in the starlit night there wasn't a shape or shadow that seemed out of place. The whole wood was completely at rest and in balance. There were no large scary animals, psychotic killers, or any other dangers of that sort. More and more he pondered what was so terrible as his heart continued to rush. Soon his whole body gave in. A fetal position formed from his arms and legs as he began to quiver. All control had been lost, he couldn't command the his body to return to it's natural state. Slowly the word began to spin, it was as though he felt the world rotating around him on the earth's axis. Soon he could no longer gather the strength to gasp for even a breathe of air. He could not breathe, he could not move, and soon he would be dead. His heart raced as fast as the wings of a humming bird. In the moments before he knew his heart would stop and he would be dead, he realized what was so frightening. He had been afraid of not knowing. This poor boy dies in the woods tonight because he was scared of what he could not understand.



"If only I knew what was there, I would not have been afraid."