I burst into tears."How am I supposed to get down? One wrong move and I'll splatter on the ground!"
This whole situation still feels surreal. I'd thought things like this only happened in movies, yet here I am—living it.
It was just yesterday. I stayed late at work to review a customer's purchase request and caught the evening bus. Since it was Saturday, there weren't many passengers. I was the only one on board besides the driver.
Tired from not napping at noon, I told the driver to wake me when we arrived. But when I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the city.I was clinging to a massive branch of an ancient tree, high above the ground, surrounded by towering trees and thick vines.
"Is anyone out there? Help! Please!"I screamed until my voice went hoarse, but all I heard was my own echo.
The tree must've been nearly ten meters tall, while I was only about 1.65 meters. The trunk was too wide to wrap my arms around, and if I slipped, I'd be done for.
By the time I woke up, it was already midday. Now the sun was setting, and I hadn't dared move, not even to grab food from my backpack.Night fell. The wind chilled my skin, my arms trembling as I clung tightly to the branch—hungry, exhausted, and scared to sleep.
"What did I do to deserve this, heavens? What kind of punishment is this?"Stuck midair, unable to stand, sit, or even fall. I wanted to cry, but I had no tears left.
After surviving the night, morning sunlight filtered through the leaves. I realized if I didn't climb down soon, I'd fall from sheer fatigue.
Gathering my courage, I crawled toward the main trunk—took nearly an hour—and began to descend. But the tree was slick. I slipped."Mom! Help me! Aaaaah!"My body slid down like a slinky, and the friction tore my palms, blood smearing down the bark.
Eventually, I collapsed at the base, pain surging through my hands. I forced myself up to find a stream and wash the wounds.
This forest… something was off.So many unfamiliar plants and flowers. Maybe I'm ignorant, but my instincts screamed that this was not an ordinary jungle.
I found a small stream, cleaned my wounds, and ate a bit of bread.I needed to get out of here—but easier said than done. I wandered for three whole days and still found no exit.Thankfully, I hadn't encountered any wild animals… yet.
Today, as I sat by the stream, sipping the last of my bottled water, I muttered,"Talk about bad luck on top of bad luck."
Back in the city, I used to be crowned campus belle, had plenty of admirers, but I turned them all down, staying single even a year after graduation. I'd been saving up for a little luxury at the end of the year.But now? I was stuck in a place that felt like the edge of the world.
Who knew how far I was from civilization?
As I walked on, half a day's journey later, I saw a flash of light ahead.
Curious, I hid behind a bush—and saw a rabbit on the ground, its body glowing.Its fur began falling off, limbs and face shifting… evolving.
Am I seeing this right?Didn't I leave the modern world behind?A rabbit… turning into a person?
A strange light surrounded it as its limbs transformed. Despite my poor eyesight, I couldn't mistake the shape of human hands and feet.
Five hours passed. When the light faded, a small child—about three years old—lay on the ground, still with some rabbit features… like two tiny front teeth.
The child's senses seemed dulled—maybe a result of just evolving. It didn't even notice me watching from the shadows.