This was a cool spin on a storytelling technique that can be really frustrating if it isn't handled carefully: when characters in a story know something that the audience doesn't. At first, I was hoping I wouldn't be strung along too long to see what "I" was looking for in the forest. Right around "What were you looking for anyway? It’ll come back to you eventually when you see it.", though, it started to click: I was under the assumption that this character was keeping something hidden from me, but they were as lost as I was. Their knowledge was my own. The use of second person really is perfect for this story, it ties everything together wonderfully.
The twist at the end was clever too. It toed the line between giving a realistic explanation for what had happened in the story, and suggesting that there were more strange, dream-like happenings in store later on. I imagine it being a circular story, where the protagonist wanders into the forest, forgets who they are, re-discovers what's going on, and wanders again in an endless cycle.
(Also, only vaguely related, but "Just keep doing what you know, and you’ll reach some sort of conclusion" is a great line. That sort of desperation that comes from seeking success in comfort is painfully relatable.)
jamriot
Great work, thanks for participating! This was a really neat story, I particularly like the ambiguity of the character's competence and the lack of wherewithal of their situation. The choice of second-person was also appropriate for a piece like this, and I like how the narrator wasn't always omniscient. There were a few moments where the exposition was awkward, like when you explain that the character kept asking themselves who they were, in "first-person tense."
That being said, this piece was really good and had me very engaged! I like how you wrapped up the piece as well, "explaining" some of the phenomena, but revealing more to be expanded on at another time. Thanks again for participating and stay tuned for winner announcements soon!