METANOIA, A Wonder Place

Episode 14

            When I opened my eyes again, the faint sunlight had already started to enter my room, perhaps when viewed from Arya's room the light would be more beautiful.

            A small sparrow entered the room, through an open vent, far above the window, a small bird

it stopped on the round table, and flew back, away, somewhere.

            Cold air blew through the ventilation gap, making me curl back into a thick blanket. Paper friction felt, when I accidentally pierced it, after checking it turned out to be a childish map that I found last night, the map had grown grumpy only overnight.

            My phone rang, and when I saw Arya sending some messages, which contained a message, so that I immediately went downstairs to eat breakfast.

            I got up from the bed, washed my face and changed into a makeshift outfit. Immediately I went down to the dining room.

            There it seems that all have gathered, but like busy with their respective work, almost like eating alone. I sat on one of the benches near my father, his eyes glued to the empty laptop screen, it seemed like I still did not know what to start writing this time.

            Mother placed a plate of cut fruit in front of me, and a glass of warm milk next to her.

            “What will you do today?” Ask my mother.

            “Now, maybe I'll explore this place.”

            Mother's face looks more cheerful and happy today, than the day before, a thin smile does not fade at all, during breakfast.

            “Another week your school will begin, it is better to be prepared from now on” himself speaks to the sikembar, who only nods in response, saying, and stay focused on the screen of each phone.

            The breakfast this time was shorter, and it felt calmer than usual, after finishing a bowl of fruit and a glass of warm milk, I returned to the room.

            I began to prepare, doing the exploration I had planned all night, the childish map I found, folded and put in my pants pocket, and, I don't want this map to be seen by any of my brothers, if they see it, it'll last for a week.

            The air was warmer than this morning, it was fitting for a walk outside, I waved to the mother who was seen from the big kitchen window, she waved back.

            The grass that was wet with gusts left marks on my boots, the air was very cool, and the smell of the trees began to smell, the more I walked closer to the forest.

            Far from what I thought, this forest looks more welcoming, and beautiful than seen from afar, orange and brown leaves, flying from its branches occasionally. I opened the map, which I kept tight on my pants, on this map was drawn a thin line and small circles blackened, there was another that looked like a building, similar to a tower, and not far from it there is a bridge between two lines, maybe it means the line is a river.

            There's not much I can understand from this map, plus I'm not very good at reading maps, which I can clearly understand, is a picture of a tree that seems big enough, no matter what is special on the tree, until this child comes along to draw it.

            “Isn't it in here already filled with trees, why he only drew one tree.” I unconsciously grumbled slowly, maybe I was also strange, following the map made by a child who was not clear picture, it could be just a fantasy, it seems I was too serious this map, this map, too, and too desperate to go into the woods alone.

            I was in a panic at the time, I quickly calmed myself down, I filled it with positive thoughts, fortunately it was still morning, and the night was still very far away, so I don't have to panic or be afraid of getting lost in the dark.

            I looked back, there might be a trail I could follow to get home later. Luckily the tall grass that I had passed left a mark and made a faint path, it seemed like I could follow for the trip home later.

            In front of me this forest looks very beautiful, golden sunlight penetrates between its leaves, which fall every time the wind boils, shaking the tree trunk, and the sound of leaves rubbing together, like music filling this forest.

            Without me knowing it, I had walked far into the forest, until in front of me was faint, behind the trees, a small stream of river that was beginning to recede, and there was a small stream, the closer I got to him, the louder the sound of water gurgling. The river was now in front of me, the water was not too deep, and it was so clear that colorful rocks were visible inside and reflected the sparkle of sunlight.

            It seems like people used to pass through it a lot, because there were some stone plates big enough to pass through someone, not far from where I was standing right now. I felt like I wanted to climb the stone slab, but also raju, I was afraid I went too far into the forest and got lost.

            I tried to step onto the first stone slab, the stone was quite large, and it seemed like it had not been passed for a long time, there was moss that had almost covered the entire face, and it was almost completely covered, the stone slab was a little slippery, if I wasn't careful I might slip and fall into the water, down there, though shallow I had no intention of going home wet.

            My hesitation was gone every time I stepped foot on the next plate, the stones swayed a little each time I stepped foot.

            Until I finally reached the riverbank, after coming down from the last stone slab, my ears caught the sound of water flow that sounded much clearer. Behind the trees right in

in front of me, I could see a bridge covered in trees, and

it became clearer as I approached her.

            A stone bridge, arched, connects with two pieces of ground slits that are separated due to the swift water, this one river is slightly larger than the previous one, and the water looks more and moves quite profusely, so the noise fills my ears, disguising the sound of crickets and other forest animals, there seems to be a waterfall at the end, I thought. Maybe if I'm lucky I can find him.

            The bridge I crossed, this stone bridge is no less covered with stone slabs that I passed earlier, but even so, if carefully observed, if, it looks like a carving on the fence, like writing in a language I can't understand.

            The wind blew so fiercely as I stood in the middle of the bridge, making me forced to close my eyes with both hands, blocking the leaves that came blowing sweeping to the face

my. The wind was so strong, like it pushed me, that I slipped and fell.

            It was fortunate that the mosses attached to this stone bridge were thick enough, so I was saved from being scuffed, just that, just that, now all parts of my feet are filled with dirt stains mixed with mud, and leaves that also stick, to the palms.

            I wanted to wash it with the water in the river, but the river was quite swift, and the water was far down there, it seemed too dangerous to clean up in that river. So I just patted my trouser cloth, and rubbed my palm, I hope you don't realize the remaining dirt stains.

            I walked slowly, towards a large stone not far in front of me, while watching the steps and cleaning up the remaining stains, as much as I could. I sat down to rest my legs for a while, and checked how many bruises I got.