They held onto me tightly as they slept, mumbling incoherently here and there. I am a little glad this child came with me… I don’t know if I could have willingly kept myself going without someone by my side…

 “I’m in control… rid of the monsters inside of my head… I don’t gain a single thing for misery…” I mumble to myself, trying to not let my grief get to me. I want to cry so much… I can’t though… I already cried as much as my wife would have wanted me to cry for her death.

 As we walked deeper into the forest, the weight of my grief hung heavy upon my shoulders, dragging me down into a bottomless pit of despair. Each step felt like a struggle, as if I were wading through an endless sea of darkness, my mind consumed by memories of loss and betrayal.

Cade slept soundly against my back, their steady breaths a comforting presence amidst the turmoil raging within me. I held onto them tightly, drawing strength from their innocent slumber as I battled the demons that threatened to consume me.

But despite my best efforts to keep my emotions in check, the pain of my past loomed large in my mind, a relentless torment that refused to be silenced. I could feel the weight of my failures pressing down upon me, crushing me beneath their suffocating grip.

"I'm in control," I murmured to myself, the words a feeble attempt to ward off the darkness that threatened to overwhelm me. "Rid of the monsters inside of my head..."

But even as I spoke the words, I knew deep down that I was losing the battle against my own inner demons. The grief and guilt threatened to consume me whole, dragging me down into the depths of despair with no hope of escape.

And then, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of light caught my eye—a baby deer caught in a trap, its terrified eyes pleading for mercy. I gently set Cade down on the forest floor, careful not to wake them from their slumber. Then, with steady hands, I approached the trapped deer, my heart heavy with empathy for the helpless creature.

As I knelt beside the deer, I could feel its fear radiating off of it in waves, its panicked breaths echoing in the stillness of the forest. But despite its terror, there was a flicker of hope in its eyes, a silent plea for salvation.

With practiced ease, I worked to free the deer from the trap, my movements swift and precise as I carefully untangled its delicate limbs. The deer watched me with wary eyes, its trust hard-earned but unwavering.

And then, with a last effort, I released the deer from its bonds, watching with satisfaction as it bounded away into the safety of the forest, its freedom restored at last.

As I watched the deer disappear into the trees, a sense of peace washed over me, the weight of my grief momentarily lifted by the simple act of kindness. For a brief moment, the darkness that had consumed me seemed to recede, replaced by a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows.

With a heavy sigh, I turned back to where Cade lay sleeping, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Perhaps, amidst the darkness, there was still hope for redemption, after all.

 I gently pick up Cade while they groan a bit at the shift of the moment. They open their eyes slightly. “Is everything okay?” they whisper. I give a nod as I speak. “Sorry for waking you, child.” I say softly.

 “I’m not a child…” they mumble. I let out a laugh and raised an eyebrow. “Compared to me, you are a child.” I say. They roll their eyes at me. 

 “If you want to be an adult, you can walk by yourself.” I glanced at them. Their brain seems to catch up after a moment. “Fine, you can call me child,” they mutter as they close their eyes.

I chuckled softly at Cade's response, a small smile playing at the corners of my lips. As Cade drifted back to sleep, I held them close, the rhythmic rise and fall of their chest a comforting reassurance amidst the stillness of the forest. The darkness seemed to retreat further into the shadows, replaced by the gentle embrace of the day.

With a sigh of contentment, I settled back against a nearby tree, the cool earth beneath me a welcome respite from the trials of the day. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to bask in the serenity of the moment, the gentle rustle of the leaves overhead lulling me into a sense of peace.

The surrounding forest seemed to come alive with the soft whisper of the wind, the distant call of a nightingale adding to the symphony of nature's song. In that moment, I felt a sense of connection to the world around me, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still beauty to be found.

As I gazed up at the blue sky above, a sense of wonder washed over me, the vast expanse of the universe stretching out before me in all its majesty. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, today might be a good day after all.

With a quiet sigh of gratitude, I let the peace of the day wash over me, embracing the tranquility of the moment as I allowed myself to drift off into a peaceful slumber, content in the knowledge that no matter what the future may hold, I was not alone.