The River Poem by Marie Byrdman

The snow is thick. I can barely see my own hands in front of my face.
I've been walking for longer than I can remember. I don't remember where I came from, where I'm going… Not even who I am anymore.
A nearby river is the only thing to lead me as I walk along it.

As I continue to walk with no real end in sight, the snow clears just enough for me to see more than a few feet ahead of me.
I see a bridge crossing over the river up ahead, as well as a thick forest.
I decide to cross the bridge, stopping halfway to look over the edge.
I look at the passing waters below, coming to a sudden realization.

The reflection in the water is not my own.

It stares right back at me, a grotesque, revolting disgrace to nature itself.
With broad, imposing shoulders, leather-like skin, monstrous hands and feet, and covered in thick hair;
It more resembles some wild beast than any person.

I lean further over the bridge to get a better view, in utter shock of what I'm looking at.
It leans towards me as well.

I'm horrified. My breath catches in my throat.

This isn't real.
This isn't me.
What the hell is that thing?

Before I can do anything, it swiftly snatches my arm and pulls me into the river.
I kick and scream, trying to free myself.

As I'm brought further and further downriver, the waters quickly become strong.
The sound of rushing water fills my ears.
I fight against the water's rapids to no avail,
As I'm dragged further and further.

I'm out of breath, my arms and legs are sore and tired from fighting the river's currents.

The river leads to a waterfall.
In a last ditch effort, I try in vain to pull myself out.

But there's no point. My fate is sealed.

I fall from the edge of the waterfall into a deep lake.
Completely exhausted, I struggle to stay afloat.
I look around me and see the silhouettes of trees in the distance.

I'm too far out to save myself.
I can only tread water for so long.
And as my exhaustion finally reaches me, I sink,

And sink,

And sink,

And sink.

I look down at myself one last time, and to my horror,

I had become the creature.

She had finally accepted what she'd become and what was happening.
And as her vision slowly faded to black,
There was nothing to comfort her in her final moments.
Nothing but the vast and endless blue expanse that surrounded her.

The only sounds that can be heard are the sounds of the waterfall crashing into the lake, the whistle of the cold wind,
And the rushing of the river rapids.
The river continues to flow on, just as it had before.
As if nothing had happened.

Soon after, the creature emerges from the water and walks on to land.

It is unrecognizable.

I am no longer me.

I am trapped.

Cursed to be stuck in an endless void, an internal purgatory.
Never to see the light of day again.

And so, not knowing what else to do, it continued its journey as it had earlier.

A mere husk of the girl it was.