to back away and pretend I had never seen it. But curiosity mixed with fear has a strange power over people. Eventually, I grabbed my phone and slowly forced myself closer, inch by inch, every step making my skin crawl. The closer I got, the worse it looked. The surface seemed soft and fleshy, almost pulsing beneath the dirt and moisture. My imagination immediately spiraled toward parasites, eggs, or some horrifying infestation waiting to burst open.
Trying to calm myself, I snapped a shaky photo and sent it to my
