At first, I was sure something was growing out of me. Thin, dark spikes pushing straight through my skin like a horror scene. I froze, staring, imagining insects, parasites, tiny creatures burrowing beneath the surface. My mind spiraled. Each second made it look worse, feel stranger, seem more unreal. I replayed every step of that day, every brush against branches, every sting I ignored.It turned out my worst fears were completely wrong. After cleaning the area and gently examining it under better light, I realized those “spikes” weren’t moving at all. They were stiff, brittle, and slightly glossy. A bit of research and a closer look confirmed it: they were just plant thorns, likely broken off from some brush or grass I’d pushed through on the hike.
My friends and I went hiking in the forest over the weekend.
