The Hike

The old rocker slid slowly back and forth on the wooden porch. It was nearly sunset, and he sat back comfortably, with quiet anticipation. She would come, he knew she would. He had been waiting a long time.
















The journey up was long. Rocks in the path stumbled her steps along the way. Sometimes the path was level. It was easy to tell where others had gone before her, footprints imprinted into the mud. The hike was not always hard; in fact, most of the time it was quite lovely. The trees that lined the path were a constant reminder that she was on a path not many choose to take. Some days were quiet, the wind rustling through the leaves blew peace on her journey. Other days, the storms shattered security and the canopy of trees offered little protection. The further up the hill she traveled, the fewer people she met along the way, until one day, she was all alone. It wasn't a frightening thought, hiking this trail alone. Just lonely. And harder. The hill became steeper, and the fog started to set in. A chill set in the air, making it difficult for the lungs to take a deep breath. Her legs were becoming weary, fatigue was setting in. It seemed as though she would never reach the top. There were times she stopped to rest, leaning against an old stump, the wet bark staining her clothes brown. The pack on her back was becoming heavier every day, and she regetted all the little things she had added along the way. Dusk was setting in, and the thought of darkness allowed fear to enter. From the distance she hear an echo throughout the hills..."Fear...not. Take....courage." Fear not. Take courage. She lifted her head.

He said the top of her head crest the hill. That was all he needed to see. The back of the rocker slammed against the wall as he lept from his seat, racing down the path to meet her. She was finally here! Her beloved had made it. All this time, all his anticipation, his pursuing and waiting, was worth it, because she had finally made it home! As he reached out to embrace her, he tossed her pack off, letting the objects that had weighed her down for so long on this journey be released. She was able to stand straight. All it took was one look in his eyes to know she was home, and that he had been waiting for her all this time.

"My beloved. You will never reach the top of the mountain on your own. Stay here with me, until it is time to continue your journey. Rest in my arms. Your journey has been long and hard, but no more. The fear of dark is gone, and the peace in knowing you are home can be in you now. Rest my beloved. Rest."