This short story highlights a good side of the past, present, and future demon.
Ethan had always been a careful man. Growing up hearing stories of his grandfather, who had traversed forests, climbed mountains, and sailed unknown seas, he’d learned a lot from those tales. But there was one story that stood out, a tale that had haunted Ethan’s memory since childhood, not because of its peril but because of the lesson it held.
His grandfather once told him, “If you ever find yourself deep in the forest and the paths vanish, don’t rely solely on what’s right in front of you. Remember your steps, and watch for the signs left by those before you.”
Ethan hadn’t given it much thought. But when he found himself lost in a dense forest at dusk, the story came flooding back.
Earlier that day, Ethan had set out on a solo hike, seeking peace and adventure. With a map and compass, he was confident, but the forest had other plans. The sun began to sink low, shadows stretched over the forest floor, and an eerie silence took over as the last birds settled into their nests. That’s when he realized he was off-trail. The familiar markers disappeared, leaving him surrounded by trees that looked almost identical.
A flash of panic surged through him, and he began to walk faster, hoping to stumble upon a familiar path. But every turn only led to more darkness, more isolation. His heart pounded, his breath quickened. The fear of becoming yet another “lost hiker” loomed over him.
But then, his grandfather’s words echoed in his mind. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and remembered the tale his grandfather had told. In the story, his grandfather had encountered something similar—lost, anxious, but he had survived by following the faint signs of others who had passed before.
Ethan opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings. This time, instead of rushing ahead, he focused on small details—the worn-down grass, faint footprints, and even broken twigs. With a renewed sense of purpose, he moved deliberately, retracing his steps, aligning himself with the trail of subtle signs.
For an hour, he followed these clues, sometimes losing them but always finding another hint just when he needed it most. His fear began to dissolve, replaced by the calm confidence he remembered his grandfather describing. Each step felt like a reconnection to that story, to the lesson left for him by a man who’d faced similar darkness.
Finally, Ethan spotted a familiar clearing, where his car was parked just beyond the last row of trees. Relief washed over him as he realized he had escaped the forest’s grip, thanks to a lesson his grandfather had once shared. As he stepped out of the woods and looked back, he felt a quiet gratitude—not only for the wisdom that had guided him but for the legacy of resilience he now carried forward.
