I found myself resting against the ancient trunk of a towering iroko tree. The undisturbed giants rose into the sky like natural skyscrapers, their immense canopies forming the cathedral roof of the forest. The air was thick with the pungent scent of rotting wood, damp earth, and the lingering odor of dead animals hidden somewhere beneath the undergrowth.
The warmth of the morning sun filtered through the dense web of leaves and branches, spilling onto my face in scattered shafts of golden light. The beams painted ever-changing patterns across the forest floor, where patches of brightness danced among the shadows.
