16 Giraffe Carvings

I called the driver up.

"Hi!"

"Hello?" I heard a raspy voice bellow from behind the other side of the phone.

"You must be Link! My old driver! Right?"

"Ahhhh you must be Emma Winston, my former colleague" Link said in a brighter tone.

"Yes! Okay I was wondering if you could do me a favor......."

Right.

That conversation.

That's what led me to this point where I was heading up to my old house.

I wonder what it looked like.

I was eighteen the last time I was there as I could remember.

I was nineteen now barely to twenty heading up towards the place that caused me so much trauma.

I breathed in the smoke scent that Link emitted as the radio played loudly in the musty black car.

So familiar.

"We are here Miss" Link said motioning to a rocky path leading up.

"Isn't this the back of the mountain?" I questioned.

"Yes, your house was in the back where there where less people and more shrines."

I took a minute to figure out what he meant but before I could question him more, he was off.

I strapped on my backpack that had food supplies that could last me for about four weeks at most.

So... there was nothing to be afraid of.

I took a dead breath in.

I don't know why, but I always seemed to do this when I had a hard time in the past.

Okay, time to start the journey.

I walked up the steps of stone cautiously.

It's took a long time but I finally started to get used to these woods.

The trees on the top shielded me protectively from the sun and the moss cushioned me whenever I fell on the step trail.

I kept climbing.

Climbing.

And climbing.

And more climbing.

Until, I reached something beautiful.

A quaint little cottage.

Huh?

This must be my old home!

I rushed towards it.

It was covered in moss and the insides where filled with just as much plants as the outside.

Rose bushes covered the overgrown backyard and I got cut several times as I entered the house.

I looked around as I stared at the place I once lived in.

Memories of my daydreaming life here began to flood back into my mind like a stream.

No, it was more like a tsunami.

Oh! That's right!?

"Giraffe!" I said taking off my backpack and running out into the woods.

I knew it was dangerous to run, but I felt like this path was mine.

Mine.

I stepped out into the meadow.

I looked around.

Giraffe!

Huh?

The place where Giraffe died......

The place where my dog Giraffe died was covered in flowers..... as if someone had been here.

No... they looked naturally grown........

I looked around the woods and noticed.... oh crap.... I'm lost.

I left my backpack there at my old cottage too.

I started to hyperventilate.

Deep breath.

Deep breaths.

"Deep breaths....."

I looked around.

Wait what?

I didn't say deep breaths.

"Is there someone here?!" I screamed out openly into the forest.

"I dunno, is there?" I heard a deep voice echo throughout the forest.

"Who are you?!" I said turning my head from side to side.

I couldn't see anyone near me.

"No need to fear me Emma" the voice said with warmth.

I stilled in fear and went quite.

"I am Alam Cot, if you have forgotten."

I turned around.

Still no one.

I felt someone hug me from behind.

I stilled.

"It's been a while."

I smiled.