The last mile

The rain was lashing hard. The dark clouds refused to withdraw, it seemed, forever. Walking in the dark, lost and drenched, he knew not what to do. Yet he refused to yield. Yield to forces beyond comprehension which at moments seem might enough to engulf oneself. He would walk towards a better day, he knew it. The belief kept leading him ahead.

He could see the shining sun deep inside himself. A splendid rainbow covering the horizon and swaying leaves across the well-kept path. A thin-stream of water trickled from a nearby hill. Sheep flocked to the end of the farm towards the last patch of green grass while the shepherd helped himself to a smoke. The servant-maid rushed out shooing the cat and scowling at the shepherd-dog which seemed to be immune to the abuse.

A faint smile rose from within. The picture was now complete. The determination reinforced, he was keen to start afresh. Rising from the depths of his inner beliefs, he grew strong again. This time, he wanted it more than before. The shine in his half-closed eyes betrayed a strength unseen before. He watched himself stand up and walk away with that strength. Walk away towards the glorious life that appeared to wait somewhere near. The life that called him from within. He saw himself leaving the place and leaving the wretchedness.

He rose another time. This time he knew it. He had to make that one last effort, the one step from a dream to a reality. Every limb refused to acknowledge his call. After what seemed like forever, he could muster courage to move. Slowly but steadily, he understood how he could move. He already knew from deep inside where he was to move.

He finally reached his dream. It was unfair, the effort, the time and the power it had squeezed out of him. But, he could see the shepherd running towards him now. The dog noticed something and started barking. The servant-maid started to run with a glass of water. He knew he had made it. Crossing the waters of doom and continuing the journey, the hardest part.