But they seem to know where they are going, those who stray from Sole. Because as they stroll through the cobbled streets, they murmur their farewells to the large gardens and the uniform but welcoming houses. There are no mansions or palaces because, for the inhabitants of Sole, everyone who lives there lives in mansions. The city itself, a palace. They enter the large courtyard and slowly walk past the fruit trees with their golden leaves glistening in the humid breeze. The voice of the wind blows from the ocean on the eastern shore of the city. Soothed by the sleep of the city, they approach the perimeter of Sole, hesitant and unsure of what lies beyond the walls of colored rock. Vines wrap around the base and climb the walls like a spider, weaving their green tapestry like a timeline accented by flowers that reflect the color of the night sky. The Great Gate was similar in color to these flowers but without a spot of white. Sorry. Rising above the wall and arching majestically, the gate was closed as if to mark the end of the promised land and the beginning of a place where milk and honey no longer flowed freely. It was not erected for the purpose of war or destruction, hatred or segregation. The Gate was built to hide those who lie on their deathbed unvisited, just steps away from disappearing into the darkness; hiding the pain and tragedy was his goal. Those who lived there knew the price of keeping their city free from misery, but they were also aware that they could not eliminate all the misery in the world. The Wall of Sole is there to serve as a backdrop to the dark landscape beyond, not a wall to keep things out but to enshrine what was within. And...... middle of paper...... ferocity. Somewhere in the distance, I hear the murderer respond with bloodthirsty croaks. I chose to settle here for the night, deciding that a destination doesn't have to be where you arrive but where you came. With this in mind, I slowly drift into a calm, dreamless sleep. When I wake up, I set off again, hitting the road with a happiness usually reserved for an old friend. As we continue, the sun sets in the distance in a magnificent display of oranges, reds and purples. A starry sky decorated the night sky and the moon shone brightly, almost happily. As I looked down the beaten road, I saw for a moment the black tunnel that stretched for eternity. It was then that I realized that I was at my destination, I had found my calling. Nothing is known of where I travel, but I walk faithfully, forced to travel the road in the dark..