New Body

Those tiny fireflies, I wonder what they are. I don't believe they are actually fireflies, but then what else could they be?

I have never once seen their bodies, and whenever they touch me, they disappear. Same as those vultures with the snakes, is this a different species of fireflies too?

Also, I believe the fireflies are afraid of the panda. They only come when the panda is sleeping.

He has gone back to sleep a couple of times since last time, only when it does sleep and shows no movements, do the fireflies appear.

And you know what? I love the fireflies. They are awesome. They are not only awesome to look at but to feel as well. Whenever they touch me, I feel energized. I still wonder if that is the correct terminology here.

Damn that panda, I hope he dies in his sleep and never wakes up. Then, I will get to feel like this all the time.

Still, I wonder why I'm feeling so energized. Not only am I feeling energized, I feel like my perception of time is also changing. I can percept it better now, not missing several years' worth of time just like that.

The panda started eating me again. That's sad. That means I will stop seeing and feeling the fireflies once more. I will stop feeling this energized again.

Once again, I start losing more and more perception of time. How many years has it been now? 10? 20? Or way more than I know?

Those men and women the panda saved… what happened to them? Have they grown old and died? Did their children grow old already?

I wish I could see them again. Not necessarily them, I wish I could see anyone.

Someone, please come and talk to me. Make my life's mundaneness disappear.

Of course, my wishes don't get answered, more time passes with nothing happening. Until… something did.

Something… weird happened today. I don't know how to explain it. I noticed it this morning, and I feel like it has been 6 hours already, based on where the sun is.

Still, in the last 6 hours, all I can think of is… what? It must've happened a day or 2 ago, and I only noticed it now, but… I have a new body.

Right next to my root, a small bamboo has grown. I can see how it looks through my main body, and for some reason, through it, I can see my main body.

Woah! I didn't know I was so massive. I'm nearly 10 inches in diameter, aren't I? Look at me… I'm so big.

Also, my new body is quite small. It's about…the diameter of two fingers, I would say. My human fingers from the time when I was still a human.

I see about 4 segments on it, and it will likely grow even more. I'm certain that it will grow to be as tall as me.

Hah, at that time, the panda won't be able to eat me both at once. I will be finally free from the panda, on one body at least.

This new body of mine just might be what I need to survive this panda until he decides to leave me.

Hmm, do I have 2 different bodies now? Or am are they the same body? I can't tell.

I certainly am the only one in spirit since I feel myself through both of these bodies. So maybe it's just considered a new part of me as a new arm growing.

Hmm, I wonder If I can grow more than just this. I can't help but imagine 10 different bamboos growing all around me from my roots, slowly trapping the panda inside and suffocating it to death.

Either that or I will be sending it straight to the heavens giving it so much food to chew on.

Dammit, that panda will probably actually like it if I grow 10 more bodies. Tsk.

More and more, I'm starting to hate the panda. I might as well say that I hate it more than the damn birds by this point.

I watch my other body grow in the period it took for the sun to go down. Since this is such a unique day, my perception of time is also quite good.

How big is my new body now? Is it… 20 inches? Look like it. Even if it did take 5 days to grow 20 inches, it will take me… what… 2 or 3 months to reach my current height?

Pfft, that's nothing for me. I can probably close my eyes and when I wake up, my new body will probably be taller than me, that is if the panda doesn't eat my new body too.

Ohh… the panda better not eat my new body, or I will… I will…

Huh? What's that? I see something in the distance. Is that… a torch?

~TOK~ ~TOK~ ~TOK~

Oh, the woodcutters are here. I see the fire, and I hear the sound, but I feel no fear this time. Well, that's a lie, I do feel some fear. Although, I can't tell why.

I can see them chopping down the bamboos in the distance. That makes me wonder, why can I see so clearly in the night? Whatever must be because I'm a bamboo.

These men look different from the ones that came last time. I suppose that's only natural. After all, how long has it been? 50 years? 100 years? More?

It's actually surprising that they didn't come in earlier.

The group of men walk toward me with their axe and torches. I know the drill. Come, say your greetings to the sacred protector and leave.

That's what you're here for right? To hurt my feelings?

Huh? Why are you not bowing? Huh? You! Why are you picking up your axe?

No! Don't you dare! Don't you F*cking DARE!

~CHOP~

These bastards! They cut off my new body and left. Now I'm back to having just one bod—

Hmm… what is this weird feeling? Those men… I can still see them, even after they left.

Don't tell me! I can see through my chopped-up new body?