The Lake

Written while listening to Slint, The Microphones and American Football.

I stepped outside onto the porch. I figured I needed some fresh air after the long and arduous day I’d had working in a coal mine. I didn’t intend this to be my permanent career, just something to do while looking for better work elsewhere. I sat down on a fading and worn wooden chair by the fire pit, and I gazed off into the horizon. The valley beneath my house descended into rolling hills, with plains of green stretching endlessly, possibly for miles. The mountains shrouded the last fading glimpse of sunlight before the stars blinked into sight, one at a time. At the base of the tallest mountain I could see a lake, clear as day, transparent water glistening in the orange and yellow of the last dying light of the day, and at that point I decided I had to see this body of water for myself. Tomorrow after work I would venture out there, I didn’t care if I ever made it back, nobody would even care if I was gone, I had nothing left. But this lake, this was a sign of beauty in the world that I had to witness firsthand, I couldn’t let an opportunity like this slip past me without notice, I had to take it. So, just as planned, after another day of shoveling coal, I stuffed a backpack with supplies I might need, and I started onward towards the lake. I didn’t know how far this would be, so I prepared myself mentally that it could take days before I reached my destination, but as I said previously, I didn’t care. As the first day of my travels grew to a close, I stationed myself in a forest, still a good ways away from the mountains, but it could provide cover. I sat down under a canopy of trees, and I lit a fire using several pieces of wood I collected and some flint. I ate by myself for a while before deciding that it would simply be easier to just go to sleep, tomorrow would be another day, another day I was eager to get started. Just as I lied down on my makeshift bed, I heard a few small drops along the branches right above me, it had started to rain. I was safe, but they got through to the fire and it quickly fizzled out. It was pitch black, I couldn’t see a thing, but I could hear a constant stream of rain all around me, it gave me a sense of serenity that I hadn’t felt in a long time, it was just me and the world, no one else around as far as the eye could see. As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I dreamt of that lake, I could almost feel it, I could see it’s blue waves crashing along a shore of white sand, boats sailing across it. My eyes cracked open and I realized it had all been inside my head, but still, I remained adamant that I would find it, I was sure of it. At last, after nearly 2 days of walking, I saw the beach in the distance, I dropped everything I had and started running, I didn’t care about anything but this lake anymore. I sprinted onto the sandy shores, and I stared into the clear blue water. I saw myself for a few seconds, but soon after my reflection disappeared. It had vanished. I didn’t understand it, but I didn’t care, I knew I had to envelope myself in the mystical qualities of this lake. I stripped down to just my underwear, and I stepped into the water. It was colder than anything I had felt before, I could feel my ankle tensing up and freezing, I knew if I went any further I wouldn’t come back, but I continued forward. I knew this was the end, but what a glorious way to go, I would become one with this lake. I swam out to the very center of the lake, I gazed up at the sky, and I took my final breath.