1 The Beginnings

TRUDGING her fingers through the soil, picking away at the earth that separated her from the air above ground, she wondered how long it had been now? Her breath was still hitched and it was for the best despite how much the feigning mortality that played at her lungs begged for her to give in, burning crisp and raw, she knew she couldn't. It was only a matter of time before she found herself exactly where she wanted --- with who she wanted.

She was nearly there. She had felt past the clay and roots, through the persistent crumble of it all which she found clumped in her hair. Until she finally reached the soft earth that meant the tickled roots of grass were only a few feet away. Her excitement was palpable.

But what made it better was the sweet taste on her tongue. The blood didn't curdle in her mouth or taste like she had bitten down on metal. No, it was nothing at all like that this time. The taste was sweeter than sweet, creating a thirst and hunger so deep inside of her that those next few feet of earth fell away from her so suddenly. When she broke through to the surface, the cold night air practically leapt to kiss the tips of her fingers.

It would be worth it. All of it. She knew this by the sound of the footsteps she had listened to all that night. Soon it would be dawn, the world waking up with her.

And that was what she was doing: Finally waking up.