Question Time

The fog had turned thicker and the density of the trees made it even more difficult for him to find the path in the forest. A wealth of sounds had surrounded him for quite some time but he could not clearly distinguish where they all came from. Now the soil became moister and muddier and his feet sank in deeper with each step – until he could not move his right foot any more. His boot was covered with mayflowers.

“They are actually quite beautiful,“ he thought looking down at the flowers, „but I have no time for this, I have to get out of here before sunset.“

“Are you stuck or are you lost?“ he heard a female voice.

„Both, I’m afraid,“ he said turning around to where he thought he had heard the voice coming from. “Who are you? Can you help me?“ he asked.

“Two questions at once … which one do you want to be answered?“ the voice said.

“Can you help me?“ he asked again.

“Yes, I can, if you want me to. But it’s not for free.“ the voice answered.

“That’s ok – whatever you want. I just want to get out of here – out of the mud and out of the wood.“ he said.

“Again, two wishes at the same time.“ the voice said. “What is more important to you at the moment, to get unstuck or to get unlost?“

“Well, at the moment, I just want to get my foot back,“ he replied.

“And what are you going to do once you have it back?“ the voice asked.

“I will be free to continue my way,“ he said, a little sniffy since this was quite obvious to him.

“And where are you heading?“, she asked.

“I want to get out of this wood so any way is good for me as long as it is out!“, he said pulling his leg again in a vain attempt to get free.

“And when you are out of the wood, where do you hope to be?“, the voice continued asking.

“I don’t know. Listen, can you just help me get my foot out so that I can be on my way – please?“, he said with an increasingly impatient voice.

“If you don’t know where you want to be, then it doesn’t matter where you are at the moment, does it?“, the voice replied.

He thought about it for a moment and said:“Well, that might be right. I might not know where I want to arrive at but I do already know that I don’t want to be stuck.“

“What do you want instead?“ she asked

“I want to be free …“ he replied

“…to do what?“ she continued asking

“… to be who I am whoever that might be and be happy and satisfied with my choice.“, he said.

He felt someone taking his hand and all of a sudden he could easily glide out of the mud.

“Then let me help you…, „ the voice said.