The Adventure's Path

I never should have left home. I've thought about returning but I have gone so far that I can't find my way back. Even though I have made many friends, saw many wonderful places, ate some really good food, and even found some rare objects. I am always on this one-way path. I can never see what lies beyond, I can't ever find out who I'm going to meet next whether it be a new friend, a powerful ally, a new sworn enemy, or one of the deadliest monsters the world has ever seen.

I was born along this path, many, many years ago. I started my travels the second I was born. Of course, my parents were there with me. They taught me how to shoot a bow and use a sword. They showed me all kinds of potions and poisons. They taught me the difference between right and wrong. To help people and bring justice everywhere I went. But as time went, on we slowly became separated. Anytime I've wanted to stop, an unknown force would just push me down the road. So many times, too many times, I've had said to myself that I would die on the road, whether as an old man or perhaps a hero.

I have walked this road and yet I have never made it to the end. I've never been able to find a way to stop taking this path, some say it's my fate or destiny. Others say that some divine being has a plan for me and wants me to execute it. I think they are all just theories people come up with to cope with the fact that they are stuck walking their own paths. As I walk down this road I have a lot of time to ponder why I'm here and whether or not I really should continue on. History and philosophy tell me to carve my own path, my own way, but I'm already lost on this road. To try and make another is pointless.

However that all changed when I met the love of my life. She showed me a love I've never felt before. She showed me how to carve through the unknown woods, mountains, and rivers. Like this one time where we had to get rid of a few trees that fell on the road. Or another time when we had to dig through a boulder because it fell on the path which was a mountainside. We even got married and even have kids now. They are just so full of energy and have brought much trouble but so much more happiness than I thought was possible to feel. Our little family continues walking down the path. Now, like my parents, I am slowly lagging behind. My kids are slowly gaining up and soon will depart. I've watched as my kids have grown up to be amazing and powerful, yet sweet and gentle. I taught them the same things my parents taught me. Even though I am getting choked up thinking about how my life has turned out I can't help but wonder what new things are going to be seen by my kids. Will they break this generational curse or will they just be like me and my father and his father before him? Will they see the brightest days or the darkest nights? Will they reach the end? These questions have scared and pushed me to be there as long as I can but I'm too old now. My knees are too weak, my joints constantly ache, and my cane is barely enough to keep up. I know my time is up for this path and yet I have still not reached the end.

I'm glad I was allowed to take this journey. Despite all the evils and monsters. I had found joy in fighting them. Despite all the times I fell down, I always got back up. Despite all the chaos this world has to throw at me, I have brought order. And even though I'll never meet every one of my friends again. I'll never forget the times they helped me get out of trouble. I'll forget all the times my family has been there to get me through the dark times. I still remember certain times I cried in my mother's arms, and when I laughed as my kids were playing. I remember how much of an honor it is to be able to live the life I had lived.

There are a lot of emotions running through me. So many memories I have nearly forgotten are flooding back to me. Is this what my parents felt when they saw me leave? Is this what was going inside their heads as I walked this path? Is this what it is like to truly feel like you have made it to the end even though the path keeps going? Is this why so many people plead their regrets or confess to a higher being? I don't know. I don't know if the path ever ends, but if it does I wish I could've been one of those guys to see it when it is revealed.

Instead of just waiting to die, I sit on the path writing all of this down so that when someone passes by I can help them in any way I can. I want people to know that I looked toward the future with optimism. I want future generations to look back and see who got them there. Who kept walking the path even though its end is nowhere in sight. I want to die knowing I have allowed for someone else to be a bigger and better hero than I ever was.

I don't want people to tell my story to be told around a campfire but rather, in front of a tavern full of people who are walking the same path as me. I want my story to inspire others to continue to walk this path or to join it. I want people to have their wanderlust fulfilled when they die. I want people to recognize that the road they had taken, not only made them better, but that is was the right one along.