The Fox

I sat heavily at the base of the tree as my body began to fail me and shut down one vital organ at a time until all that was left was a kind of vision or sighted-awareness that pulled me through the orbs of my eyeballs like a man jumping through the portal of a sinking ship.

There was no one around to observe the dissolution of the processes of my physical existence much less the escape of what was left, but something must have been signaled by my demise as a figure coalesced from the shadow of leaves darkening the forest floor.

I saw if not sensed its dark profile, a large curving nose coming to a point like the blade of a scythe and I felt a chill run down my spine that no longer existed in this disembodied state.  The man-shape approached with what appeared to be a confidence mixed with caution.

I sat there defenseless, no arms to raise, no legs to run, no mouth to shout, just my naked being quivering in a timeless space or a spaceless time, confused and unclear as to the rules of the game once one has crossed over from life to death, or different-life as it were.

My fear appeared to embolden the thing as it drew substance and form from it, undulating in odd proportions though retaining an overall humanoid appearance with predatory eyes the color of obsidian looking to encase me in their cold and dark malevolence.  

When all hope seemed lost a fox came trotting down the path, its red fur flickering through the shafts of light that pierced the forest canopy.  It locked eyes with the shadow-form as it stepped into full sun and burst ablaze, then charged and leapt without hesitation.

On impact the shadow splintered into a murder of crows scattering to find refuge in the tree tops far from the fox.  He turned his cool blue eyes my way and I knew in an instant it was my son who had passed over before me as a child, now an unlooked for savior.

And I saw my body reclining against the tree amongst the Autumn leaves.  It had carried me far along the path of this earthly existence, but I was happy to leave it to be reunited with the red-headed boy who I’d helped bring to life, and he had returned the favor.

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