The Snake

The below short story originally appeared in June 2012.

 

THE SNAKE

 

Amie loved the wood. she liked the huge oaks with their spreading branches many of which had stood for centuries defying storm and the woodman’s axe. Most

of all Amie loved the greenery of the place. Recently Amie found herself wishing to run and run into the forest’s greenest recesses, to disappear and become

one with this tranquil and beautiful place.

In the depths of the forest there was no snake with it’s horrid touch. Thinking of the reptile Amie shuddered and tears filled her hazel eyes. The creature

had only recently invaded Amie’s life which had hitherto been a happy and an uneventful one. She had played with her favourite doll, Molly, gone shopping

with her mum and lived the life of a happy well adjusted little girl. All that ceased when the snake slithered into her life.

The creature would appear at night  . It made little sound as it probed where no snake should ever insinuate itself. Amie’s body hurt in a way in which

it had never done so before. It hurt inside but it was not a pain susceptible of medicines, it was beyond the ministrations of the most potent drugs.

Amie haden’t confided in anyone about the snake. They wouldn’t understand and in any case the creature would hurt her even worse than it had done thus

far where she to summon up the courage to tell.

As she walked Amie became aware of a slithering sound as the loathsome thing followed her through the wood. “Christ I didn’t know that it knew about this

special place” Amie thought as she began to run. Amie ran ever faster until at last she became a mere blur of movement. As she picked up speed she became

ever less child, she became part of the green and beautiful forest until at last the snake could see her no more.