The Aroma- Hiadel
Walking through the woods I still couldn’t understand how I had managed to get myself lost this morning. I must have been out in these woods a thousand times before hunting logs for my fireplace and deer. Normally I’d be pretty upset right now, being lost in this forest. Cradling my hunting rifle in my hands I thought about all the chores and school work I was going to miss being lost out here. I wouldn’t have to worry about that stupid English essay or that math test coming up this Friday. My parents couldn’t force me to go to church or push me to do all those things I didn’t like to do. My mother couldn’t make me try that spinach casserole she keeps telling me that she’s going to make. The more I think about it, I feel freer being out here with nobody around to ruin the pleasure of being outdoors. None of those obligations would tie me down and I could just hunt to feed myself. I could easily find myself at peace out here just breathing in all that good country air and smelling the surroundings.
Speaking of smells I’ve picked up this magnificent smell to follow over the past hour. Since I’m totally lost and have no idea as to where I am I told myself that I’m going to follow my nose. I can’t remember the last time it betrayed me and I don’t have anything else to follow anyway. This aroma I’m following feels so distinct to me. I’ve never smelt it before but at the same time it feels so familiar to me. It feels like an invisible finger has come and started pulling my nose towards its source, and the more I smell it the more I desire to find out what it is. With nothing to lose I headed off towards the source of the aroma.
After a few miles of walking I discovered myself on a hill overlooking this creek that was running by. Between the creek and the hill I was currently on I saw this sharp dip where the hill met the creek. Thinking the smell was coming from over in that area I went over to check it out. Walking by a hedge of bushes I saw what was around the dip in the hill: a cliff formation that hung out over the creek bed. On that cliff formation were thousands of golden flowers hanging sideways over the creek. It was truly a sight to behold and I had to pinch myself to make myself believe that I wasn’t dreaming. Immediately I dashed into the creek and wadded my way through the water so I could get close to the flowers. Reaching the flowers I stretched my hands out to pull one of the flowers off from the wall. It was hard to decide which one to pick to smell because they all seemed to be hanging off as if I were the president on parade and they were all sticking out their hands for me to shake. Picking one out I pulled it close to my nose for a hard whiff, but nothing came. Throwing that flower into the creek I frantically looked for others to smell. Surly one of them must be the source of this smell! It drove me crazy, not knowing which flower had the smell. After a few minutes I felt the tug of the smell rise at my nose again. The aroma wasn’t coming from the flowers. Totally ignoring the wall of flowers I followed the forces controlling my nose. It dragged me across the creek and told me to go downstream. Without resisting I headed towards the source of the smell. The flowers would be there for another day, this smell wouldn’t last forever. I had to find it!
At first the stream wasn’t hard to fight. I just had to make sure not to slip on rocks and work my way around fallen trees here and there that hung out over the creek bed. Eventually the creek grew deeper and deeper. It rose up to my waist and the water became deep enough that I couldn’t see the bottom through the dirt that blew with the stream. I couldn’t stop though because I didn’t know any other option other than to continue looking for it. Stopping would only lead to me not finding that amazing smell, and the thought of never finding that smell only compelled me to drive deeper down the creek. Now the water was up to my neck and I had to start swimming down this creek that was becoming more and more like a river. Slowly making my way downstream I started to become exhausted. Keeping my head above water I could feel myself slowly start to sink. Using the last of my strength I made a last push down the stream and let myself sink into the water like a massive ship going under with his captain at the helm. I wasn’t angry because the smell was still with me, and as long as it was with me I felt like nothing could hurt me and that everything that concerned me was O.K.. The only thing that bothered me as everything went black in front of my eyes was the fact that I was not going to be able to pursue that smell to its source. With that final thought I let myself become totally overcome with darkness.
Unfortunately those moments weren’t my last. I only say unfortunately because when I woke up again the aroma hit my face and with that punch all the desires of that distinct smell came back. The smell had a grip on me that was impossible to lose. I had to free myself of it! Something told me that finding its source would let it release its grip on my soul.
Looking around I took in my surroundings. This massive cavern engulfed me. Stalactites hung from the ceiling of the cave like fangs would a vampire and I could see this faint light being emitted by what seemed to be torches in the distance. I noticed that I had washed up inside the cave on this rocky shore where the sitting water met the rocks. I must have somehow floated underwater and through a few holes in the cave to end up washing ashore down here. Pulling myself up I made my way towards the light, thinking that the smell might be over there. As I drew closer to the lights I could tell that they were torches and that those torches illuminated this massive table that sat high on this platform that stood above the water and surrounding piles of rocks. This was no ordinary table though; it was a long table that held a feast that could only be fit for a king. All types of assorted grapes, fruits, breads, meats decorated the table. A hog’s head stuffed with an apple down at one of the ends finished of the picturesque view of what should be a perfect meal.
All of this rested high above me. There was this pile of rocks nearby that seemed to represent a sort of ladder, so I went over there and started the climb towards the top. The sad part about this was that I wasn’t climbing to free myself of hunger or starvation; I was only climbing to the top to see if the smell’s source rested there. Marveling at myself the entire way I climbed that rocky ledge up to the platform. Was I really this desperate? Why couldn’t I free myself of this desire? I didn’t know the answer to any of these. I guess they will just have to be answered with time, as all important things usually are. As I neared the top I started to shake with anticipation. I could smell that distinct smell coming from that table and with each step up that pile my heart leapt with joy. The feeling that I was finally going to find that smell gripped me with all my might and absorbed me entirely. So much attention was called to this smell that I didn’t notice a small rat sitting upon one of the rocks nearby. Lifting my foot onto that rock so that I could continue my journey towards the banquet I startled the rat. It leapt onto my foot and bit me, causing me to reel back in agony. As I yelped my hand slipped off one of the rocks I was holding onto, causing me to tumble and fall of the edge. As I fell down towards the water below I thought to myself: “Rats! Now I’ll never be able to find out what that smell was!”.
I never hit the rocky depths below though. Before impact I woke up, sweat running down my forehead. I was relieved now, partly because that had just all been a dream and now I didn’t have to worry about that smell anymore. Wait, where am I? Looking across the room I was in I realized that I wasn’t in my bedroom. I was lying on this large bed that had tall pillars flanking either side of it. The architecture could only be described as coming from the ancient Greek time period, as vines draped overhead and light was emitted from windows nearby. All of this seemed so unreal and I questioned myself as to whether or not I was still in my dream. It’s not every day you find yourself stuck in some ancient building after falling off a pile of jagged rocks. I must have been so happy that I was free of that smell that I hadn’t realized earlier that I wasn’t home. Hopping off the bed I made my way out the door and down a few corridors until I found myself in what appeared to be the building’s living room. Large sculptures of mythical gods circled the room and gave it a feeling of purpose and importance. Starting my way towards the center of the room I noticed how detailed the room was with its embroiled edges and pots decorated with women. I wondered who lived here.
As I walked into the center of the room I saw this young blonde girl appear across from me at another entrance into the room. She was decked in a very appropriate toga outfit to accompany the environment surrounding her. The only reason that she didn’t have me totally transfixed by how pretty she seemed was the hunting rifle she held in her arms. As soon as I saw the rifle I realized that I had waken up without it and that she must have taken it from me. It didn’t look like she knew what she was doing with it though. The was she gripped it could only be matched with how a five year old would try to hold a broom that was much to big for him. I wasn’t laughing though because she held the rifle the wrong way with one of her fingers clenching the trigger. “Ah! It’s you, the strange boy that washed up by the stream this afternoon. You were terribly hard to drag up the steps and put into that room. Way to heavy and filled with muscle for a small girl like me.” she said with a smile. “By the way, how on earth do you use this thing? I don’t see the point of it.” And with that she tried to put it down and in the process fired the trigger and sent a bullet flying across the room. I immediately ducked for cover. The bullet shot by a statue I was near and ricocheted into my ankle. With a moan I gripped my leg. Dumb blonde! Why can’t people leave rifles alone?
This girl, shocked by what she had just done, dropped the rifle and ran over to me. Helping me stand up we carried my body over to a lounge chair that sat in the corner of the room. As I laid there she went off to get some medicine for my leg. She came back a few minutes later and started to patch up my leg with bandages and these strange leaves. The more she worked on my leg the less I paid attention to my wound. Watching her fingers move down my ankle made my eyes wander up her arms, leading straight to her pretty face. It was really hard to ignore how the light shined on her eyes or how her lips seemed to sparkle. The sight of her made me totally forget all about that leg wound and everything else that had happened that day.
As she finished up her work on my ankle she realized I was staring at her and gave me a smile. Tying the final lace of the white bandage she said “Yes, it’s not very often I get visitors here. It can actually get pretty boring around here. There’s no one to comfort you, nobody to talk to or pass the days with. Do you ever feel that way? It’s really a sad feeling to have to bear.” Looking at me with deep sorrowful eyes it was all I could do to not cry for her. Reaching for me she started to feel the rest of my leg. My muscles strained then relaxed, as if my body was taking a massive breath then sighing. I welcomed her feelings. Her touch seemed so elegant that I knew that I needed to surrender to it and let me be at her mercy. I watched as her lips moved, wondering if she was going to kiss me. All these feelings swirled around me in an indescribable motion. They seemed to encompass my emotions and captivate me entirely. I’ll admit that right then I hungered for her and wanted her as much as she seemed to want me.
Feeling her fingers crawl up me I felt ecstasy and fear strike me at the same time. As her affection tried to crawl up my body so did the smell! It was back, seemingly from hell with a vengeance! The aroma filled my nose and sent chills running down my veins. How did this smell resurface? I didn’t want it but I had no choice in the matter. My soul surrendered to it and all my feelings toward the girl that was currently all over me drained out of my body and went to ruin on the floor below. I fought all of this to the bitter end. I wanted to embrace her in my arms but the smell was to overpowering.
Standing up I shook her off of me and started to make my way across the room towards the exit. My bad leg throbbed with pain, but my seeming desire for the aroma seemed to inject adrenaline into my bloodstream. My body pulled with all its might against my desire for her. It was determined to find out what that smell was. As I walked away from that chair she got up and followed me “What’s wrong, am I not enough for you?” she said as she tried to pull me back with her hands. Shaking her off, I continued making my way for the door. Tears started to form as she said: “Do you think I can’t bring you what you need? Why do you walk away? I can feel it in your blood that you desire me and that deep down you want me as much as I want you. I just can’t understand why you won’t stop though!” I couldn’t understand it all either. Honestly I wanted to turn around right then and be able to stare into her eyes one more time. I wanted to fall into those deep eyes. Hell, I could fall to my death for all I care. It wouldn’t matter to me just as long as I didn’t have to follow the aroma. If I was in my right mind today I wouldn’t have ever of gotten up from that chair in the living room but that crazy smell has me all tied up. The aroma has total control, and I can’t do a thing about it.
Following this trance I surrendered and let myself fall into a total hypnotic spell as I left that girl’s home. I can’t really remember where I went after that. All that comes to mind is miles of walking through forest and countryside. I could briefly recall passing over a few creeks and making my way by some orchards. The smell was so spellbinding! My body was totally captivated by the feeling and sense of it. It was as if my body was walking across the countryside with my soul tied behind it, being dragged behind my body by chains.
Regaining my normal train of thought I realized I was outside my house. It wasn’t time to think out how I got here though because from outside my house I could see what the aroma was. It sat on a picnic table outside my house in the back yard. As I stood there with ripped clothes and a bandaged leg I questioned my sanity over the course of the day. Lying on that picnic table was a bowl of spinach casserole! I was half relieved and half distressed as I watched steam roll off the dish. Now I knew what the aroma was, but was it worth anything at all? Distress kicked in as I realized all the things I missed out on that day; the wall of flowers, the banquet, and that lady who helped me with my leg. All that enjoyment was lost, thrown to the wind to never be heard from again. I cursed myself for letting that aroma take hold of my nose and never let go.
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