She always says things
I don't want to hear:

"Your most signficant quests
are always the hardest.
Perseverance
demonstrates
worthiness.
Your destination will taste
all the sweeter
for the hardship."

And with that,
she pulled the hood of her cloak,
back up over her graying hair,
and disappeared among the pines.

Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.