Dear Traveler:

Today I left. No one saw me. It was still much too dark for anyone looking beyond their widnows to see anything, save for my lone candle in the wind. I traveled alone for several miles. I will spend years on the roads, looking and searching, possibly longer than such. Honestly I do not know how long this will take. I do not mind the time spent. Mother says that when you find it, you know it is right for you. Live life and you shall find what you are searching for. She said this many times.

I traveled alone over the Mountains, stumbling over several a rock, often sliding down the cliffs several feet. I tripped and scraped my knee, but a nymph of the woods came to my rescue and healed me. Further up the mountains, a snake bit me. But the Heavens drained me of the poison allowing me to continue.

I traveled alone through the River. It was freezing cold turning my fingertips blue and numbing my feet. Trudging through the icy waters a small fish had been left behind from its school. I gave it a piece of bread and it led me through the rivers upstream. I followed it to a spring of fresh water, where it nudged a gem onto a stone and died. I pocketed the gem, drank of the fresh water, and continued.

I traveled through the Storms. They were harsh, blinding my sight with sheets of rain and pounding me with hailstones. I forgot about my quest, focusing on living through the Storms ahead of and behind me. The lightning was close and monstrously deafening. I held on to the hand of a Stranger through the Storms. The hand was strong and comforting. The Storms dispersed and the hand of a Stranger became the hand of a Friend.

We traveled together to the end of the world, where we stood side by side looking down. I looked into his eyes, he nodded, and we came back just the way we came.

Through the Storms of trial and downheartedness, he held my hand. Through the River he kept me warm in his friendship. Over the Mountain he healed my wounds and protected me.

Today we left. No one saw us. Mother says that when you find it, you know it is right for you. Live life and you shall find what you are searching for. I thank the nymph for healing me. I thank the Heavens for ridding me of the poison. I thank the fish for his small kindness in return for my own. I thank the hand of the Stranger that became the hand of the Friend who helped me fight through hardships.

I lived life looking for Love, but when I forgot to, Love found me. Have patience with Love. It will come and when it does, you will know it. The One that follows you over the Mountain, through the Stream, and through the Storms. Who you would travel through all Hell and complications just to get to. Follow the path before you; the one you set. Your Love will find you.

B hashala.