Orpheus Onward

Blissfully oblivious. Walking through the woods with my head held high, I was too busy looking at the clouds and the falling leaves to notice the bear trap at my feet. Piercing flesh and cracking bone. Trapped. The clouds were no longer my concern and I was left with only two options. Wait or sever. If I waited, if I didn’t do anything, I would surely bleed out. I would die. But if I sever, if I chop off the part of me that is trapped, I would have a chance to survive. So I did just that.
I cut off the part of me that was already starting to rot. The pain was excruciating but necessary. I went mad from the screaming, the tearing, the weight being lifted. Nearly passing out, praying that I would so this could all be a dream. Or more likely a nightmare. Then the world went black, but at least it went on. At least I would live.
So I continued forward. Slowly. First crawling. Face down in a mix of blood and mud. Then pulling myself up to my hands and knees. Begging to anyone and anything that would listen. Finally rising to my feet… or foot. Dusting off what little I had left. Limping, but progressing. Standing unevenly, but standing all the same.
I don’t look back on what was lost, despite every aching step being a reminder of what I did. Progression is easy. Moving forward is natural. But fighting the urge to turn around and catch a glimpse of what happened, forgiving yourself for not watching your step, that is the true test of strength.
Now through dirt and tears, through sweat and blood, through trials and tribulations, I can hold my head up high without fear of another bear trap. I can see the sky once more.