The short path that turned into a gully

I'm walking the old ridge trail and the shortcuts are all taking over — every one someone swore was faster has washed out into a gully, red clay everywhere. The map keeps redrawing itself, always a thinner line, always a shorter way. Ahead of me a woman with a drone hovers and asks if I'd like to see the summit without walking. I say no but the word comes out as yes, and the trail underneath me starts eroding sideways while I watch. Woke up checking my boots.