A Pilgrim's Path

Reed stares out the rain-spattered window of the airport shuttle, contemplating how different his surroundings will soon be from everything familiar. Wet verdant hills rush by as the vehicle snakes up into the mist-shrouded mountains. As the overcast sky sheds fat drops upon the verdant landscape, Reed reflects on how far he has come. The orderly streets and familiar structures of his hometown now feel constrictive, the usual bustle leaving little space for deeper thought. Each passing kilometer bears him further from what was known, delivering him to a place untouched by prior associations yet profoundly compelling in its natural beauty. Clad simply, with but a single bag bearing essential items, Reed has embarked on a journey seeking more than a change of scenery.