The transition from full desert to grasslands is pretty jarring to see in person, like a complete 180, and mentally I’m not comprehending what I’m seeing.

Sand dunes even out as small bushes fight tooth and nail against the arid landscape their victory marked by a field of low grass and hearty flowers.

Actually, a lot of flowers, Sound of Music Disney movie levels of flowers, and every inch of sandy soil is coated in a rainbow.

The beach curves into a bay and despite not seeing the opposite side I can tell it’s there as the shore drags into the distance.

The solitary palm trees were slowly replaced by actual trees though I’m clueless as to what type of tree they are, I really wanna say oak but again don’t know what an oak tree looks like.

Shivers run down my spine as I spot the occasional purple blur but it seems that for the moment the death bunnies are ignoring me, I chalk that up as my win for the day.

Spotting a new critter makes me do an actual double take as I spot a perfectly normal-looking squirrel vanishing from the ground and reappearing at the top of the tree.

What the fuck is wrong with this place, repeating my latest and greatest mantra helps calm me down but reminds me that I’m still unaware of where I am.

I have some theories though.

Gonna say it right now that if this all turns out to be a coma dream I’m punching the first doctor I see, assuming I’m still mobile and not a vegetable.

My best guess puts me somewhere in either the Middle East or some part of Northern Africa regardless of which I’m entirely fucked unless I get really lucky, luckier than I’ve been.

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Aside from that, I’m more likely to consider my dwindling sanity than the next idea.

Hear me out, aliens.

Yeah, no. Just no.

But that pairs nicely with the off chance that I was a part of some hitherto unknown science experiment that teleported me across the planet. That’d be neat.

Gonna stick with the abduction theory though, far less messy if I ever get back home.

Camping out under the canopy of one of the trees I stop to enjoy the stars as they pass me by zipping through space. So rarely did I ever see something like this in the city and it pulls me into sleep with the knowledge that despite whatever happens at least I got to see this.

I repeat my mantra as I stare at the leaves above me, this isn’t a normal tree, I slowly reach my hand towards the bark and find it takes far longer than I expect to reach the rough surface.

The leaves above look to have an equally disturbing effect as sunlight passes cleanly through them despite my inability to see anything behind them. My head starts to hurt as I look with increasing frustration at the tree, I know I should be able to see past the leaves because the sun is passing through but I can’t.

All of the trees I pass have the same thing going on I even go out of my way to check others and indeed all the trees for miles around me are identical, I shiver knowing I slept beside one last night.

The thick bushes are gone now replaced by low dense grass and even more anomalous trees, I ignore those as best as I can, I’m slowly entering a forest watching in real-time as the sky gets dimmer and dimmer as I walk.

The innards of my last coconut are devoured and I’m glad it’s a light meal as otherwise I’d have vomited what little there was.

The trees have shown me yet another disturbing feat against nature, the forest floor is bare and save for the grass nothing separates dirt from the open air.

I’ve said I don’t do nature but even I know that a forest should be difficult terrain marred with overgrowth, roots, and fallen branches but nothing.

No clovers, no flowers, nothing, but that’s not the worst part, no that would be the trees themselves each one evenly spaced from one another to an exact.

I’m measured with my steps and without fail every tree is exactly thirteen steps from the next not closer no farther almost like an orchard.

I’d think it was one if not for the sheer size and oddity of it all but the trees bare no fruit so unless it's a wood farm I’m stumped.

I’ve lost track of the mountains but it doesn’t matter even in a weird ass forest like this I’m sure I can find something to help me. A stream would keep me going for days even if I can’t find any food along the way.

Almost on cue, I hear running water.

Precious water flows through a tiny stream weaving in between rocks like an artist dancing with their brush. I’m in awe as I admire its beauty, my head lowers and I drink like a college frat boy.