“Stop saying we’re lost, you aren’t adding anything constructive to our predicament.” Darren mumbled to his inanimate dog. “No one likes a backseat driver...”

They had been walking for quite some time and Darren unplugged his hard drives to save energy since the ability to recharge them with solar energy was waning due to the cloudy sky. Clearly, the journey was feeling more and more useless with each step that was taken. 

“If I hear one more word about how I can’t find my way out of a paper bag, I will reconsider our friendship...” the imaginary personalities were starting to annoy Darren. “You know what? Fine, I’m not that sane, I’m talking to a stuffed animal, but unless we stumble upon a rehabilitation group before we get there, the only help I can receive is love and supportive gestures from you.” Darren gridded his teeth and clenched his fists, he took the bag off and threw it on the ground and tried to calm his breathing. “What do you mean you see a therapy circle ahead? What lies are you making up to...oh look at that, people.” Darren picked up the bag and hugged it, “You’re the best friendship companion in the world!”

Darren reattached his backpack, took a deep breath and headed towards the group, attempting to look like he had some form of “style” with his current energy level. He softly spoke to his stuffed dog, "I need you to be cool and not call attention to yourself, last thing we need is these guys thinking I'm insane or something." Andrea Bocelli's rendition of "Funiculi Funicula" danced in his head as he inched his way towards the group.