*Read Part 1 and Part 2 of Returning whence I came...

My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing. 

-Aldous Huxley

A night wrought with distraction; a sense of mixed feelings lingering. Sleep was less of a comfort than was anticipated. A walk will clear my head. 

The brisk temperature, light wind, and lack of humidity are a welcoming presentation. The weather is friendly. I have been familiar to the harsh reception giving by winter, that I have forgotten how summer feels.

Could this be a sign? Have things changed?

Dwindled hope now protrudes and shows signs of emerging. I feel lightness upon my shoulders. No longer do I feel the weight of fears and frustrations, driving their claws into my shoulders. It is as if their presence has dissipated altogether.

Maybe things will be different. 

This walk has cleared my head. Maybe there is hope here. Maybe it is not all for not. 

There is hope.

During this morning stroll, the fears of unrelatability and misunderstanding were squelched. Verbally processing through with Kayla, days prior, produced a change. Pessimism ceased to take root. I could finally think clearly and act out in hope, rather than the fear that produced dread in me. 

This would be the start of two glorious days of redemption.