Dawn breaks upon the clouds, upon the mountains, upon the fields. Illumination of all is such a sight for eyes as sore as these. It brings out the beauty in this already peaceful landscape, supplementing its natural splendour. I soak it in for what it’s worth; alas my time for enjoying such a splendid sight is heart wrenchingly short. For this morning, the sun rises to greet a grave man. My eyes wish not to be deprived once more of the warm sunlight, yet it is necessary if I am to live through the day. The glare is now absent from my face, as I stand with my back to the sun, and stare onward towards the opposing land, towards the impending journey.
Treacherous as the road ahead may seem, I must go on, lest I wish for the worst. Even death may be more forgiving than the fate that awaits me, for at least in death will my misery be put to an end. My mind wanders to such topics, yet I want not to think about it. And so I shall not as long as my mind is so kind as to not wander. The task at hand is not so difficult as it is to take a step, yet the peril lies not in the step itself, but in the place in which it is taken. My feet begin to find their way around the rocky hillside, slipping on the odd occasion, nervously hoping that the next move will not be the last.
It seems to be without end, yet I keep the knowledge close to my heart, that the end is much nearer than at first it seems. Each foothold struggles to bear my weight; they tremble, wishing that I would not have stepped there. But still they hold, even as I continue my descent of what may be the steepest hill that I have ever had the misfortune to traverse. I would fear for my life, if I wasn’t so sure that my life may already be gone. Even so I continue, always down, and always cautious.
The descent is approaching its end, and as glad as I may be to have survived, I don’t think my mood will improve greatly, unless the landscape proves to be less hazardous up ahead. I begin to doubt that things will get any easier as my weary eyes are greeted by a foreboding wall of evergreens. The brush is thick as the light now shining high above my head is bright, not giving much relief to my troubled mind. I would consider moving around the great forest, but it is just that. It expands as far as any man may see, but not just on either side, as it certainly stretches out a far distance in front of myself.
Surely a great many things call such a place home, and just as sure am I that many of those things would be happy to make my existence more difficult then it need be. Despite my fears of those that lurk within, I must pass through this forest, tremendous as it is. The branches wish not to be disturbed, yet I answer not to their will.
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