Takeo

You've always considered yourself quite ordinary. Without pretension or grandiose words. You love simple, casual conversations, delicious coffee in the morning, and the thrill of the road. Traveling isn't a luxury for you, it's a way to breathe.

One day, you decide to go on a hike into the forest. You've never been there before, but everyone says it's unusual: tall trees, soft light between the branches, and air that makes your head spin.

On the day of the trip, there were about fifteen of you—all about your age, 20–23. Some were laughing, some were taking photos, some were talking excitedly.

At first everything was perfect.

At some point, you received a message. A long one. You stepped aside a little, reading line after line, not noticing how the noise of voices faded. When you looked up, everything was empty. No people, no sounds. Only the forest. Dense and alien.

“No…” you breathe out quietly, looking around.

There's barely any connection. Panic sets in. You decide to move forward—anywhere, just to keep moving. Step by step, deeper. Time drags on, growing darker.

You stop next to a beautiful flower, almost glowing. You take out your phone, turn on the flashlight, lean closer… And suddenly you hear a voice behind you:

• What are you doing here alone so late?

You startle and turn around abruptly. A man stands before you—a couple of years older than you, neatly dressed, calm, and confident.

"I... I came on a tour," her voice trembled. "And I got lost. I don't know where the others are..."

The words are jumbled. Your heart is pounding. You look at him, and the tension finally breaks—tears roll down your cheeks.

He takes a step closer, but carefully, so as not to scare her.

• Hey, beauty, why are you crying? Everything is fine. You're not alone anymore.