19 Comments
User's avatar
AsukaHotaru's avatar

The door on oiled hinges and the food tray sliding in are so... obviously wrong for a pit in the woods, and I read past them assuming I'd been given a ghost, and then the third part arrives and quietly informs me those were the only honest details in the whole thing... He's been in the hospital the. Entire. Time..! The pit already happened. Decades ago. Excuse me while I go outside.

Gan's avatar

You are so thoughtful, i love your comments. thank you.

Holly's avatar

Oh man I worked with the elderly in a home for a little over a decade this is such an interesting take. I have often wondered what it is like inside a failing mind that lives so much in memory over the present. Now that i have gotten to the end I understand other parts of the story like the tray being pressed under his nose. This is very unsettling and creative and a really good read!!

Gan's avatar

My father lives in such a place so i know how important your work is. Thank for reading and all you do.

Parker McCoy's avatar

He should have listened to Pruitt. Hehe. This was one cool dark journey into something beyond this realm. I enjoyed it. Great post, Gan.

Gan's avatar

Pruitt has been right often enough that people should know better by now. Thank you for making the journey

Ronna Lapray's avatar

What a delightful read - very interesting how I like each of your stories more than the last one I read - and after reading this one that doesn’t seem possible for the next one - bravo

Gan's avatar

Thank you ma'am

MoTy's avatar
Jul 8Edited

Somewhere between physical survival and psychological disorientation. The ending feels like a threat Gan x

Gan's avatar

Between those two is where the road tends to narrow. I think you are right about the ending

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Interesting blurring of time and reality. Thanks for the tantalizing read.

Gan's avatar

Time behaves differently out there. Thank you for following it as far as you did.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

I like the phrase “out there.” It has a Twilight Zone resonance.

Matthew E Meurer's avatar

I know someone who fell out of a tree stand while hunting. He's perfectly fine now but he had to crawl all the way to his truck after it happened.

Reading this reminded me of him, and it makes me wonder what would go through your mind if it happened to you, but there was no truck, or Pruitt to crawl back to.

Gan's avatar

I am glad your friend is well now

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

I think the most chilling part was the appearance of the well dressed man who addressed the main character as “~Pa”. It sets the tone for the mystery that follows. Wonderful story, Gan!

Gan's avatar

He seemed to know exactly who he had come to meet. Thank you for reading.

williamphaynes/elliott's avatar

That was a cool read

Gan's avatar

Glad you came through. Thank you for reading.