I look at the quickly setting sun. It's going to be night soon so I decide to find somewhere to stay for the night. "Stay at the Sakuraya!" I hear from the left. Well, that is a lucky coincidence. Lost in my thoughts, I'd almost passed what seemed to be the only inn in town when the innkeeper came out for her last advertisement of the evening.. either that, or she saw me walking by. Probably the latter, actually..
I smile and turn left, entering the small establishment. I pay for the night, then head to the room, following the directions the exhausted-looking innkeeper gave me. As soon as I find the room, I drop my bag on the floor, then fall onto the bed with a similar plop. I quickly fall into a deep sleep, forgetting even to remove my sandals.
The dreams I have tonight are almost exactly like the ones I had every other night since I'd decided on my ten-year journey: Visions of the man who'd defeated me. Visions of the one who'd saved me. Questions of who was right. Speculation on what I would learn on my journey. And lastly, always the last dream of the night, the vision I'd see just before I wake up, invariably, is of the one I love.
Each night, that One would reach out to me and as I moved to touch the delicate fingers stretched toward me, I would wake up. And I do so this time as well.
This time, however, is different. I usually woke up in a terror, afraid I'd never touch that love, but tomorrow.. in just one more day! I will finally clasp those fragile hands in my own.
I look out the window at the breaking dawn. I promise that when I find my love, I will have to fill those bright eyes, the ones that often filled my dreams, with this brilliant sunrise. I get up and wash my face with a little water that I have with me. On my way out the innkeeper, who has just awakened himself, invites me to morning tea. I wouldn't mind a cup, but I politely refuse. I have to hurry to my love.
I pull a small photograph from my bag and stare at the tiny image. The minuscule, yet still every bit as beautiful, face says to me, 'I'm waiting. I need you here'. I let my eyes wander over the tiny form for a while, then I reluctantly turn it over. I study the directions I'd scribbled there for a few moments, then put the photograph back into my bag and head toward Tokyo.
I smile and turn left, entering the small establishment. I pay for the night, then head to the room, following the directions the exhausted-looking innkeeper gave me. As soon as I find the room, I drop my bag on the floor, then fall onto the bed with a similar plop. I quickly fall into a deep sleep, forgetting even to remove my sandals.
The dreams I have tonight are almost exactly like the ones I had every other night since I'd decided on my ten-year journey: Visions of the man who'd defeated me. Visions of the one who'd saved me. Questions of who was right. Speculation on what I would learn on my journey. And lastly, always the last dream of the night, the vision I'd see just before I wake up, invariably, is of the one I love.
Each night, that One would reach out to me and as I moved to touch the delicate fingers stretched toward me, I would wake up. And I do so this time as well.
This time, however, is different. I usually woke up in a terror, afraid I'd never touch that love, but tomorrow.. in just one more day! I will finally clasp those fragile hands in my own.
I look out the window at the breaking dawn. I promise that when I find my love, I will have to fill those bright eyes, the ones that often filled my dreams, with this brilliant sunrise. I get up and wash my face with a little water that I have with me. On my way out the innkeeper, who has just awakened himself, invites me to morning tea. I wouldn't mind a cup, but I politely refuse. I have to hurry to my love.
I pull a small photograph from my bag and stare at the tiny image. The minuscule, yet still every bit as beautiful, face says to me, 'I'm waiting. I need you here'. I let my eyes wander over the tiny form for a while, then I reluctantly turn it over. I study the directions I'd scribbled there for a few moments, then put the photograph back into my bag and head toward Tokyo.