This story was inspired by trips to Moab, the surreal landscape, and some weird stuff that happened on one trip. And at the last minute, I added a few things for a little emotional gut punch.
This is a very unsettling story. That's what makes it as good as it is. The ending is so hard to figure out, but it's worth it to go back and read and reread it to try. I like some of the foreshadowing, like John seeing the gliding hawk and then later wanting to be like the hawk, gliding on air. And I especially like all the references to darkness and his being inside a small bit of light but surrounded by darkness. This is a story that rewards a close reading.
This is a very unsettling story. That's what makes it as good as it is. The ending is so hard to figure out, but it's worth it to go back and read and reread it to try. I like some of the foreshadowing, like John seeing the gliding hawk and then later wanting to be like the hawk, gliding on air. And I especially like all the references to darkness and his being inside a small bit of light but surrounded by darkness. This is a story that rewards a close reading.