I stumbled and fell. My foot twisted on the black stones, which had been covered in moss and mildew for five years. When my shoulders struck the ground, I knew something was wrong. It was not the sound of the snapping or cracking. My left leg was crossed over the right, such that it rested on my right knee. It dawned on me that I looked like a ballerina. I spent three days in that spot.

On day one, my eyelids opened and closed every few minutes. I had no pain in the legs. I was numb. As the dust from the run-down barn's flooring filled my lungs, the cold sweat added a degree of agony that felt unreal. The uncontrollable shaking that my body did surprise me. I believed it was due to the air from the clear night sky. As I turned my gaze to the beach ball-sized hole in the ceiling, I could see the shimmering sky. The heavens glistened like exquisite art on a canvas. It was haunting. I pleaded with one of the shattered wooden roof planks to drop and stab my heart. It did not happen.

On day two, a pair of rats discovered that I posed no danger to them. I saw the beauty in other animals for the first time as the small gray blobs crept towards me. They harmonized well, coordinated in their search and rescue efforts. They were adorable. I called one Pinky and the other Brain. Very original, isn't it? I was taken aback that they did not try to devour me. Neither stopped to flash their razor-sharp fangs dangerously at me. These were unlike the rats in my nightmares for so many years.

There was a time when I was scammed by an overalls-wearing sumo wrestler who despised rats. Mr. Pest Guy persuaded me to use peanut butter-filled wood traps in my attic to catch rats that weren't apparent in my house but were in the neighborhood. I have no idea why I feared them. On second thought, it is all Mr. Jenkin's fault. I learned a lot about the Black Plague from my awesome bow tie-wearing, dreadlock history professor. Mr. Jenkins, damn you.

On day three, I was saved by Pinky and Brain. I felt sorry for the poor guys, seeing as they didn't turn up any food. I promised the pair that we would "take over the world." The strange vow helped me get out of my head and look for a solution to my dilemma. I was more attentive than before. I'm sure that's why I could hear a barely audible sound indicating someone was exploring in the surrounding woods.

"Help." I attempted to yell, but my throat was parched. My voice was hardly discernible.

"Help." I tried again. My voice quivered.

If I managed to make a sound, I have no recollection of it. It seemed like the footsteps were becoming louder, but my voice was missing. That exact time, I saw Pinky on a stone, and that's when I came up with my plan. I grinned as I unearthed two of the black stones that had been beneath my head. My lips spread into a goofy grin as I realized, no matter what, I was going out with a bang. Oh, yes, it started with a bang! I banged the rocks until I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. Until my world turned black, I kept playing Bob Marley's Three Little Birds song in my head.

When I awoke next, I was no longer in the old run-down barn. As my mind became clear, the TV in front of me showed the news, and I was highlighted. According to the news anchor, a missing person was discovered in the Millard Farmhouse after three days.

She went on telling a story of what happened, noting, "Presumably on a hike, the man fell while looking around an old brown barn on the trail. Fortunately, other hikers in the vicinity heard a strange noise as they passed by. Upon checking the location, they discovered the man unconscious."

For the most part, the media and the internet were kind to me. Even though I wanted to offer perspective, I could not get myself to do any interviews. Until now. I worried that if I told people I went to that spot to end my life, I wouldn't know how to explain why. I cannot believe that I wanted to and was willing to die only a short time ago. Now, I want to continue to exist. Laying in the same place for three days made me understand that I have the ability to conquer whatever obstacle I set my mind to. When Pinky, Brain, and I plot tonight, we're going to work on ways to take over the world.