I do not know how long I wandered, blinded by the unceasing light of the sun, but I am sure I walked for many days. Strangers yelled obscene phrases and pelted me with rotting fruits and stones in a rain of violence. Despite my wounds, no wretch was low enough to rob me of my meager possessions. I gritted my teeth and trekked on.

When I crossed the unseen boundary into the realm of night, I was pleased by the refreshing coolness that night had to offer. My sight returned but in a much reduced state. I was left with hazy outlines and shadows upon shadows to guide my way. Silence traveled with me and, as a companion, left much to be desired. It wasn’t merely quiet, it was the nature of the quiet, the stillness full of tension that abated breath and produced heart-pounding anxiety.

I clung to my purpose and it drove me on.

Where I come from Death is elusive; difficult to find and almost impossible to bend to your will. I followed it here and I vow to end my curse one way or another.