Caution: Road Stolen

Have you…
Have you ever seen a sign that bears this warning?
Caution: Road Stolen

Have you…
Have you ever had your path
Snatched from underneath your feet?

I saw that sign
A neon yellow triangle
Protruding from an empty horizon line
It stood so innocently, so proudly
I was sorely tempted to trudge past it

But…
There I stood, on the edge of burning black pavement
Dotted white line half finished and worn over

I stood and stood
And I stared at that sign,
Willing it to vanish with my mind

It didn’t move.

I blinked.

It wasn’t the first time I had lost a staring contest.

I inched closer to the curb.

Have you…
Have you ever been to the edge of the world?
I mean…
Have you ever dared tread to the recesses of your reality?

I have.

It’s sort of fun.

That sign…
That sign grew taller before me
It stretched and twisted, searching for the clouds
My head cocked backwards to watch in amazement

I blinked.

It had never stirred.

I punched it.
I beat my fists against the cold metal
So unyielding in its decision

“GIVE IT BACK! I CAME ALL THIS WAY!
NOW GIVE IT BACK TO ME, YOU STUPID THIEF!”

There was a ringing in my ears.
Small spatters of blood dotted that obnoxious yellow color.

My knuckles were bleeding.
My heart was bleeding.
My mind was bleeding.

I heaved in fresh air,
Hands on my knees, bent over in exhaustion

Inhale. Exhale.

Now count to ten, just like they taught you.

Blood drained from my cheeks
My mind was mended.

I straightened, squared my shoulders.
My heart was mended.

Have you…
Have you ever had the guts to plunge…
Plunge head first into an unknown world
Where all the compasses are broken?
Where all the faces bear no difference to a blank mannequin?

I had the guts.

I stepped past that boundary
And thousands of roads appeared and forked away from me

And I loved it.

I wasn’t worried; my hands would heal one day.