Alex was sure he knew the “right” path.
Bright tunnel: safe, predictable, low risk.
Crooked tunnel: dark, noisy, full of possible chaos.
His planning brain had already chosen. But the Compass of Choices buzzed in his hand like a tiny alarm in his nervous system.
It tilted toward the crooked tunnel.
Once Alex stood there so long his legs hurt. His heart was racing; his brain was running threat simulations, exit strategies, backup plans. Then he noticed something: the fear in his chest wasn’t about monsters. It was about disappointing someone.
Sometimes your inner compass is your brain saying, “This is scary… but it’s honest. Go gently toward it.”
He stepped toward the crooked tunnel. Later he couldn’t explain why it was the right choice. He just knew this.
