You set off to follow your dreams
And you are anxious, and as far as you can tell, no one really believes in you, but at the same time you are ready and eager to prove them wrong.

You set off to find a paradise
And for so rare of an occasion in your life, you feel hopeful, and you're ready to face anything.

You set off and cut down your first tree
And it was your first step to success. You knew that things were going to get better and brighter from here on out.

You set off and met the paradise's guardian
And you saw him as a hindrance. You were perplexed and quite annoyed with your encounters with him, you were only trying to follow your dreams, after all.

You set off and made a promise
And it was to not cut down anymore trees. You figured that maybe it was for the good of everyone that inhabited the forest.

You set off to sell your first thneed
And days and days passed, you still haven't found a single thread of luck. Your hope was beginning to falter. Maybe your dream really was worthless after all.

You set off and found friends
And they were in the forest's inhabitants all along. You felt happy, and for the first time in your life, you had company that made you feel warm and welcomed.

You set off to see
that people actually liked your thneeds! Things were starting to look up; things were getting better, and you couldn't be happier.

You set off and reunited with your family
And they were so, so proud of you. Your mom was finally proud of you, and she said she believed in you all along. And it felt so good to hear that. But you can't seem to ignore that horrible feeling creeping up at the back of your mind.

You set off to make your dreams a reality
And you were so proud of yourself. You have friends and family, and you're well on your way to starting up your business.

You set off and became faced with a choice --
Agree to cut down another tree, or keep your promise; to disappoint a friend, or your own mother. And that horrible feeling from before was now beginning to weigh down on your chest.

You set off and broke a promise
And you gave in to your mother's pleas, "Do it for me?" You figured she would know best, she is your mother after all.

You set off and let down a friend
"You're better than this; you're doing bad, kid!" ...Bad? That's... ridiculous, you figured. You're only doing what was good for you and your family. And you've made it so far. There was no point in turning back now. And how would your mom react if you refused?

You set off and your company got bigger
And for the first time in your life, you had everything you ever wanted and more. You were the man who had everything -- acceptance, fame, power, and love, right?

You set off and had a fight with an old friend
And you realized that maybe he wasn't as good as you thought he was. He was just there to stop you and be a nuisance. You were angry, and for a moment, you were sure about what you wanted and what you had.

You set off and cut down your last tree
And it was going to be the downfall of you. You knew at the back of your mind that things were going to crumble down all over you now.

You set off and bid goodbye to the paradise's guardian
And he was your only friend, the only real friend you ever had. And you should have listened. You should have kept your promise. But you didn't.

You set off and saw a paradise fall
And it was all by your own hands. And feelings of guilt and sadness were now starting to choke you. It was all your fault.

You set off and had your heart broken
And by your own mother at that, "You have let me down." And it was the most hurtful thing that you have ever heard from her all your life. You were left and replaced by the last thing that you had held so dear.

You set off and lost everyone
You were alone, you were tired, you were miserable, and this time you had no more company to turn to, for you were the very same person who shooed them away, and chose the wrong ones to keep.

You set off and lost everything
And you were in tears, and you were in pain. You had realized everything too late. You were lost, and you were still missing, and you're probably beyond chances of being found.

You set off to follow your dreams
Only to see yourself lose the way and everything else in the end.