Find Your Way

Glued to the spot, she looked around her, eyes widening at the sea of unfamiliar people. A moment ago, she had been following those oh so familiar bright blue sneakers, her hand firmly clasped in someone else's so this very thing would not happen. She had always been taught that when you get lost, don't move from the same spot you were in and look around. She couldn't move anyway, the sea was that dense. Every person seemed to blur into the next until all she seemed to be able to see was a huge blur of colour. 

She closed her eyes and the sea disappeared into complete blackness. She stood still like that a moment, her sole focusing on breathing. In, out, in, out. She relaxed a great deal when she opened her eyes and the sea of people had disappeared completely. 

The peace, however, only lasted a brief moment before the swarm of buzzing began in her mind. Thoughts. Many, many thoughts, swirling around in her mind. So many that it seemed nearly impossible to distinguish between them or pull any one from the pile. So many that she felt sure her head would soon explode from the pressure. 

She looked behind her warily at the clear, though dark path with the spooky air about it and shuddered as the chills ran their way down her spine. That was one thing gone. She knew, for sure, that she didn't want to go back that way. So, that left the maze of paths before her, of which there were several. But the real question is, which to take. 

Again, she closed her eyes and took a breath. Long ago, the path had been easier. There'd been that bright blue sneaker clad figure with their hand outstretched toward her. Now, that figure did not stretch their hand out toward her, but instead stood on the sidelines, watching. "sometimes, you have to get lost to find your way." that same figure had once told her. 

"Well, I'm definitely lost!" she said out aloud, folding her arms across her chest as her eyes slowly scanned each of the paths in front of her. She knew continuing to stand there would not get her anywhere. She had to take a path. But which one?