A GENTLEMAN

The stones grind under the soles of my shoes as I walk along the gravel path to the rock formation. The gentle crunch, not alleviating the knowledge that a familiar presence is waiting for me there, is at the forefront of my mind.

The air is thicker now and the light darker as the sun crests. The change causes the trees to appear ominous in their crowded formations, their shadows dancing in time with the wind, bringing with it the sweet smell of pine, permeating on the breeze, tickling my senses and drawing me closer as I step off the path.

Twigs and leaves snap as my legs lead a way through the dense foliage, my body moving deeper into shrubs.

Seeing my destination in front of me, a large mass of rock, surrounded by fallen branches and ferns, I step up and over the uneven surface, climbing the smaller sections to make my way around to the other side.