too many years and too many hardships therein had left me but a small shadow of a former self. I was the shell of half a girl, in both literal and metaphorical terms.
Slowly slowly I started to crawl back. One slow and scary step at a time.
Without going into all that painfulness, for it's too much to tell in a single sitting, let us instead proceed to the present day. I'm here and it's now, so let's get on with it.
Today for the first time, around about half past ten (hallelujah it began raining men lol) Marie found me at the (wrong) bus stop and we began what was my first adventure after eight months on the island. It was, also, my first adventure with another person in an even longer time, so it was strange yet somehow really nice at the same time. Did it leave me feeling exhilarated and exhausted in equal measure? Yes. Would I change that for the world? Most certainly not.
Trying to look back on the series of events, my recollection is a little hazy as I quite comfortably assumed the position of backseat passenger. She goes on a trip almost every weekend (be it solo or with Sylvia as a sidekick) and, well I'm a novice in comparison and quite happily followed her lead. None of the responsibility, all of the rewards.
There were buses and walking and then actually living. Walking talking sitting looking feeling hearing smelling tasting seeing and sensing everything that what was once normal for me. Anyway, these are the photos I have of the day, let's just stick them in and let them tell my story for me. I need to go to sleep soon.
she came to meet me at the bus stop
we left the city behind
she explained how her brain translates images of maps into physical spaces
we stopped at a beach
and sat and talked.
I was happy there.
we walked some more and she was happier there
