That was the only logical thing to do when you ran into the woods at night, right? I wished my future-self brought along some game I could play in times like these. But the silence was okay too I guess. I got my imagination to play with anyway. And slowly I got the confident that I could pull it through. Then something moved from the dark. I couldn’t see, but I could feel it. But the creature that came my way was the darkness itself, ready to plunge it fangs into my soul. I trembled big time and couldn’t budge a finger. Then the darkness swallowed me whole and crushed my soul. I was filled with despair.

I was sure I am going to die. It was pointless to regret anything. At least I wished I could tell my parents that I was sorry. But the request was nothing but a useless hope when I am about to be devoured by the creature everyone scared about. Wait! I had my future-me came before, it meant I made it to the future right? Where is he now? Slowly, I regained my composure because I couldn’t be killed now. I exist in the future.

The creature kept it pace towards me. I was scared, but I tried not to. I would save myself anytime soon. I rooted my feet firm to the ground not to step a single inch back. Vaguely I heard a growl. I sporadically ran for my life out of the cave. Have you ever tried to run with your eyes closed? It was basically what I did. I forgot my flashlight due to fear that caused me to ran for my life. My life worth more than a sight in the dark.

So I ran as fast as a boy could. But I knew I wouldn’t go far. It wasn’t my territory. I am not a nocturnal creature with a night vision feature. I knew I could not win this fight but as once an animal, humans have the instinct of an animal if they are pushed to the edge. It fueled me to marched on toward the dark part of the woods. And even for that slightest luck, I was betting my life on the line. So I ran as if I had no other purpose in my life other than running on that very moment, as fast as a boy could. It was tough. But my time to give up wasn’t coming anytime soon. I wouldn’t want me to be killed in the woods by some creature I couldn’t fathom. But then again what I understood by that day wasn’t that vast like what I have now. Even death was something beyond my understanding. Yet I know that it exist. It stole my granddad from me.

I had run far enough because my lung was about to burst out. I stopped under a huge tree. An oak tree perhaps? But I had no time to figure out the kind of that tree when all I needed was to inhale every particle of oxygen in that woods. I was breathing fatigue. Exactly the last thing I wanted to get in inside me. I threw my weight to the ground, crouching underneath the huge tree root and wait for something to happen. Something must’ve bound to happen right? Even if nothing happens, something’s happening in the form of nothingness. And I was counting on that.

As we all know, the opposite is most likely the only thing ever going to happen because God is a funny man that loves to joke around. Then I heard the exact low growl I feared. The voice bounced throughout the whole woods. I couldn’t pin-point its whereabouts. But I was sure it would come for me. It was only a matter of time until I got dragged into the pit of despair. Now I had to move fast and decide what to do. Since life is all about making choices, I had two options laid upon me; either to run again deeper to the unknown or stay still and hope that not a single soul found me. It was tough. My lungs was still burning from the lack of oxygen, while stood still and be devoured by a monster sound like a bad move to make. Nonetheless, a choice needed to be made. I was tired, scared and alone in the dark with malicious creature somewhere with me in this woods. I craved for mom’s hug.

Even I knew precisely that every single second wasted on being confused of what to do was bringing me closer to an end of a story. Whichever the ending would be, I had the control to put it to rest with a choice I was about to make. I crossed my fingers and made my a pick of what to do. The future couldn’t hold another mystery to be tangled.

***

And in that dense darkness I saw light shun on me. Was it God? My mind wondered uncontrollably. What is God? The questions kept coming swallowing me into nothingness. I was a pure concept in that space. Then it happened.

I saw a silhouette stood not so far from me. From the features, I could tell it was a male. Slowly he took a step by step towards me. His shoe soles clacked echoing the space. Do you even need a shoe here? I looked down and I had mine. Pair of shoes, checked. And as he got closer, I could see better that he was me. The reflection I saw in the mirror. I knew it was him without a doubt. He was smiling at me. Not the usual eerie smile. Just an ordinary friendly smile to a friend. Or at least that was the feeling I get. He was a friend not a foe. Exactly what he said. But it was a premature decision. I couldn’t trust him yet. Everything in this space had bent what’s logical. So a friendly gesture didn’t mean a thing. I put my guard back up.

I was about to ask a lot of question, but I held back just to prove a point on where he picked his side. So I waited for anything. He kept his pace. With a few feet away in spare between us, he stopped. Silence crept up annoyingly pushed me on the edge with his smile lingered on his face as if smiling was the only expression he could produce. I really got to say something. I opened my mouth, but my voice escaped me. I couldn’t produce a sound. That was when he started to talk.

“Hello again. You must’ve figured it out already. I am you and we are one.” His voice was mine. Could it be we both took turns to use the same voice? Was it limited to just voice? Because we both had two identical physical bodies.

“If you ever wondered whether all of these are real, they are. To be frank, they are all beyond real. Don’t ask me how or why. It’s a fact that couldn’t be explained. “ He said that with a pure solidity in his words. I couldn’t argue with that. My father taught me so. I waited for him to carry on. But he didn’t give in the slightest gesture to say another word. The light above me was still glowing bright as the first time. What was it? I looked up squinting my eyes just to see what was at the end of the light.

“You don’t need to worry about it. It won’t harm you,” he told me as I was staring. “I know you have a lot of question, but we don’t have the luxury for that. Our time is limited. Are you calm enough?” I nodded doubtfully not knowing what was coming. “Good,” without the slightest concern whatsoever he carried on, “Now listen closely to what I’m about to say because I don’t like to repeat myself. After all, we don’t have the time for it.”

He told me about how we would get out from the limbo with precision to every detail there was. It was easy for me to pictured the whole steps, as if I was seeing everything with solely by his guidance. Were we sharing the same vision too? It was amazing how I adapt to this chaotic peculiar situation. Even his description of things to do suddenly made sense to me.

“I believe that was all,” he finished the complicated maneuvers I had to do. “Did you get it all?” He asked. And I nod, as if nodding was the only thing I could do. Then he wished me good luck before he got back to the darkness.

***

It is six in the evening. The shining knight bows down to lady night to excuse himself. It is dark again. I made it out from the limbo, exhausted after wearing all the energy I possessed to cross over. I lay myself on my bed and stare to the last light vanishes from my wall, letting me wrapped in darkness I know too well. Everything will be alright now. But my solitude doesn’t last long. I heard something moves in the bathroom. I am exhausted, but I know I am stronger now after everything I just went through. So I force myself up and head to the bathroom.

I knew it right away the noise came from the mirror. I look at it. Then I smile. I am happy to see my other-self cries for the freedom I am having now. I finally get what I’ve been wanting for so long; a life where the light exists.