Considering her mental and physical condition, it wasn''t surprising that her colleagues noticed Nora''s condition. Still, while they worried and offered her support, there wasn''t much they could do.


    She was sitting at her desk, trying to focus on her current project. But lines of code on the screen were blurring and shifting due to her exhaustion. Her sleep was sporadic and uneven nowadays. One night, she would pass out right after she put her head on the pillow. The next, she wouldn''t be able to have any rest at all.


    Nora''s working day was coming to an end. She had some progress today, but even with her usual overachievement, her current tasks started to dangerously lag behind.


    She sat at her desk, reviewing notes from past nocturnal visions when a wave of drowsiness washed over Nora. She fell into a dream right away. It was a place of total darkness, but at the same time, she felt like she was at a concert of a doom metal group. Deep vibrations were passing through her body, bringing the feeling of total alienness.


    But as abruptly as it began, as unexpectedly, the dream has ended. As if somebody turned off the switch.


    "Well, if you are trying to recruit me, maybe use a language I know?" she shouted in the emptiness, "And either help me to get through or fuck off!"


    "Nora, are you alright?" asked Pete, her boss. He was standing right in front of her desk, looking at her with concern.


    Nora promptly sat straight, trying to put her disheveled ginger hair in order. She felt several keyboard buttons imprinted on her cheek, where her head fell on her desk.


    "Ahhhh…" she mumbled nervously. "Sorry, Pete. I had some sleep issues in the past few weeks. I went to my therapist several times, but nothing seems to help…"


    "You know what?" said Pete. "You''ve been so overworked this year. Why won''t you take a week off? Have some rest, and put your head in the right place. And come back when you are ready. How does that sound?"


    "Thanks, Pete!" said Nora. "That''s very kind of you. I should have probably figured out that I need a vacation or something. I just wanted to finalize this project."


    "Don''t worry about that," said Pete. "I will find some backup for you. Take your time."


    ***


    And that''s how Nora found herself on a train to a small town a few hours away from the place she called home for the past five years. She moved away from her parents when she began studying at the university.


    With every year, she spent less and less time there, in her parents'' house. But that''s life, right? At least all the modern technologies allowed them to see each other as often as they wanted through video calls and photos on social accounts.


    This abrupt homecoming put Nora''s parents into an overcharged caring state. Her childhood room was waiting for her, as usual. She was given all her comfy clothes. Every day, Nora''s parents fed her all her favorite foods and spent time playing board games with Nora and watching movies.


    She immersed herself in memories. Console games from her childhood, music, and old posters on the walls.


    Browsing through her old CDs, she recounted that strange dream in total darkness. Maybe the code was hidden somewhere in these old records? The details and rhythms from that unexpected dream had already faded out. Still, she hoped she may revive some of them just by listening to some of her old heavy metal records.


    But alas, while she was able to recover some sensations, it didn''t help her fully immerse herself into a similar dream. What was even worse, when she listened to that music before sleep, she''d tumble for hours, without any hope for rest.


    Time passed swiftly, and this brief vacation at her parents'' house was coming to an end. She felt a bit more relaxed and connected to her childhood. Alas, while it brought some peace of mind to her and restored her sleep patterns, Nora wasn''t getting any closer to reconnecting with Sumi.


    The evening before the final weekend, Nora''s mother asked: "Do you remember our hikes? Didn''t we enjoy these weekend walks. And later, when you grew older, you always ventured to go alone, returning absolutely rejuvenated. Maybe that''s what you need to find your balance? They cleaned up the National Park quite a bit since you moved away. It''s a real pleasure to walk there nowadays!"


    And her mother was right. That was a splendid idea. Nora was even surprised she didn''t think about that herself.


    Not wasting any time, Nora''s parents found in their basement all the gear she could need for a weekend hike. They gave her enough food and water to survive the two days in the wild. And instructed about the changes made over the years to the local paths.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Finally, as the vacation was ending and there wasn''t much time left, they decided that Nora would get to the train station Monday morning to head straight from the National Park to the city. She''d either keep the gear in her city apartment or return it during her next visit. But this way, she''d have a chance to spend more time in the wild.


    As soon as Nora took her first steps on the trail, she could feel a deep and primal connection to nature wash over her. But there was something else there, something intangible but so relevant to some of her recent experiences.


    Yes, it was partly about losing the weight of years spent in a bustling city, buried under the stress of university and demanding work. It lifted from her shoulders as soon as she stepped under the canopy of the trees of the National Park. There, she was transported to a time when she was ten years younger and much more carefree.


    But still, there was something else there. And Nora couldn''t yet put her finger on what it was.


    Following the designated route, Nora found a cozy glade and stopped to cook her meals on a small gas stove. The tantalizing smells of simmering vegetables and sizzling meat filled the air, mingling with the earthy scents of the surrounding forest. In a way, it was even better than grilling food at her parents'' house backyard. But at the same time, her heart momentarily filled with melancholy.


    As night fell, she was well prepared and had already found a good place for her tent. It was a picturesque clearing with tall trees standing guard and a babbling stream nearby. She''d wanted to say that it reminded her of that glade from the dream where she met Sumi. But no, everything was different here.


    Exhausted but content, Nora drifted off to sleep under the glittering stars, entirely at peace in this natural sanctuary.


    ***


    As the soft moonlight bathed the forest floor, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The night passed for Nora in a peaceful slumber, devoid of any dreams or disturbances. When she woke up, Nora felt completely rejuvenated and even more connected to the natural world surrounding her.


    Once again, she mentally thanked Pete for pushing her to take some time off. Here, under the trees, every breath she took brought the crisp, refreshing scent of pine and earth. It filled her with a sense of serenity and oneness with nature. And even if no magical dreams waited for Nora during her sleep, she already began to feel better.


    With a granola bar in one hand and a water bottle in the other, she trekked through the dense forest. She started with familiar trails and followed her parents'' instructions. However, even if she had spent countless hours wandering these woods as a child and young adult, there were still hidden pockets she had yet to discover in this expansive nature reserve.


    As Nora ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew taller and thicker, blocking out more sunlight. The dense canopy above cast a dappled pattern of light and shadow on the forest floor as if nature had created its own stained glass windows. These scenes triggered a feeble memory in Nora''s mind. Still, she couldn''t quite put her finger on what it was.


    She felt a strange sense of familiarity, a blend of past experiences and recent days spent in the small town and nature. The earthy scents of moss and soil, damp because of the morning dew, filled her nose, mingling with the crisp freshness of the air. Every step she took felt like a journey back in time to a place where magic and wonder still existed.


    Setting up for lunch, Nora chose a different glade. She had to make some progress, getting closer to the train station every day. By that moment, Nora had already walked a reasonable distance from her parents'' house, and her feet ached with each step.


    Even if it was Nora''s favorite activity before, she wasn''t used to this sort of long walks anymore. But at the same time, she couldn''t help the smile on her face as she trekked through the lush forest. The sunlight streaming through the trees warmed her skin, filled her with vitality, and brought a profound sense of harmony with the natural world around her. Despite the physical exhaustion, she felt renewed and alive.


    Exhausted, she found a patch of soft grass on the hill and lay down, letting the warm sun kiss her skin. A light breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the sweet scent of wildflowers. She closed her eyes and let herself fully relax before continuing on with her day.


    The location was remote. Nora didn''t hear any human noises from the surrounding areas or see other people for several hours. Nora had an unexplainable and immediate urge to enjoy the warmth of the sun as much as possible.


    She dropped off her clothes, leaving only the underwear. Nora didn''t have a bathing suit as she didn''t plan to swim during this hike. Still, the area was quite secluded, and her desire to feel the warmth of this pleasant day with every square centimeter of her skin was overwhelming. After a hesitant moment, she decided to be even bolder. After all, how soon would she have another opportunity like that?


    Smiling to herself, she slowly removed her panties as well. Nora stood there in that glade for a brief moment, fully immersing herself in that new sensation of being almost nude in the forest. Then, decisively, she removed her sports bra, surrendering her whole body to the elements.


    A few minutes later, Nora found herself lying under the soft sun of the late morning. The rays filtered through the trees and warmed her ginger hair. The soothing wind caressed her bare skin, carrying the earthy scent of the forest and the distant murmur of a stream. It was a perfect moment to recount everything that had happened to her so far. The vivid dreams, the intense sensual encounters, the sudden disconnect, and the strange messages that felt like someone was trying to breach a wall around her mind.


    Again and again, her thoughts returned to Sumi and the ending of their first encounter. There was something about that connection that felt unfinished, like a melody that ended on an unresolved note.


    Thinking of Sumi, Nora started to feel her own body semi-consciously. She realized how focused she had been on reconnecting to her dreams, her work, and her routines. But during these past weeks of loss of sleep and rest, she didn''t have a moment to reconnect with herself.


    For what felt like a very long time, she had been consumed by her responsibilities and neglected her well-being. But in this brief moment of respite, as a gentle gust of wind caressed her pubic hair, she was reminded to take care of herself.


    Nora reached out and let her fingertips trace the delicate curves, reveling in the sensation of the touch. The softness of her skin contrasted with the coarse hairs tickling her fingers, and she marveled at the intricacies of her own body. She reached even further only to find out that she was ready.