"I'm a long way from the land that I left.
I've been running through life and cruising toward death.
If you think that I'm scared, you've got me wrong.
If you don't know my name, you'll know it now."
Lord Huron
Prologue
February 2nd, 2017
By the Shades of the Seraphim, protect the contents of this journal from the eyes of the untrustworthy. Both worldly and otherworldly.
Today marks an anniversary of my accident.
The result of the crash is what brought me here to Kathmandu after western medicine failed me, and I had thought all hope of recovery was lost. It wasn't until a man by the name of Johnathan Pangborn told me of a place where my hope would be restored.
I left everything and everyone that I knew in New York and bought a one-way ticket here.
After wandering the streets for an hour, asking questions about Kamar-Taj, a man by the name of Karl Mordo assisted me after several men attempted to steal the one last material thing that was valuable to me. He guided me to the sanctuary for the broken and lost, and he introduced me to the Ancient One.
I thought that I had made a colossal mistake after hearing what the Ancient One tried to explain to me. I was desperate, frustrated, and exhausted after spending more than a day traveling here, but I was wrong.
She showed me things that couldn't be explained by science or logic, and I saw visions that not even an ounce of Loud Dream could inspire. I immediately became a believer, but I was abruptly thrown out.
However, I stayed close to the door and prayed that she'd reconsider me.
A few hours later, I was brought back in by Mordo, shown to a room and even given the password for the Internet. I didn't dare ask why she gave me a second chance.
My shower experience was less than comfortable since there wasn't an actual bathtub or hot water, but I made do with the plastic jug and plastic tub that was provided. I was grateful for the shampoo, and I was even more grateful for the hot meal that was awaiting me when I exited the bathroom.
It was my first taste of Kathmandu.
I had never had momos and Sel Roti before, but it was the most delicious thing that I had tasted. With my head full of thoughts, stomach full of food and ribs a little bruised, I slept for hours until the deep ring of a bell woke me.
The rest was history.