8 Comments
User's avatar
Anita Perez Ferguson's avatar

I want to compliment your story and the artwork, Forest Sanctuary, that preceeds it. Perhaps La Senora found her forest sacuary. The four months of beauty & light, the luciérnagas (fireflies)enjoy, after twenty months crawling the earth, speaks to the fragile nature of beauty and our earthly existence.

Expand full comment
Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Thanks, Anita. I kind of imagine the fireflies saying, "Time is short. (blink) Here I am. (blink) Wanna mess around? (blink) (blink)

Expand full comment
Mark VanLaeys's avatar

So tragic on both levels - dying so young and also so completely alone - even though in a group.. I find it intriguing that people would suffer that much physical stress and not want to be embarrassed by asking to stop. I'm not judging because peer group pressure is such a strong force. I'm very glad you made the right choice to slow down when you did. BTW - very well written.

Expand full comment
Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Thank you. The guide was rushing us but you're right and I've been those situations where I didn't slow down when I should have. Peer pressure is powerful.

Expand full comment
Aussie Jo's avatar

Oh how I liked this

Expand full comment
Rebecca Ripley's avatar

This story had me in a magical land--and then afraid for you as you slowly descended. I'm so sorry for the senora. What a beautiful place to pass from this world to the next, though...

Expand full comment
Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Very true - and I hadn't even thought of her death in that way. I was kind of stuck way back where someone had to identify her and make the most difficult of phone calls.

Expand full comment
Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Thank you, Becky ... it was a strange and magical night.

Expand full comment