I thought this journey would be simple—just me, my mother’s ashes, and the path she never finished. But as I ventured deeper into the forest, I uncovered something unexpected, something that changed my life forever.
Losing my mother felt like the ground had crumbled beneath me. She wasn’t just a parent—she was my best friend, the person I turned to when life felt too heavy. Without her, everything seemed painfully quiet. The house we shared was filled with her absence—her favorite blanket still draped over the armchair, her scent lingering in the air. The silence was suffocating.
In search of comfort, I turned to her diary, a weathered book she used to plan her dream journey to Crabtree Falls. She never got the chance to complete it, but I knew what I had to do—I would finish it for her.
The forest wasn’t easy. It was a battle—cold, damp, and exhausting. My legs burned with every step, and at one point, I lost my backpack to a rushing river. All I had left were her ashes and the diary, tucked safely inside my jacket. But the deeper I went, the more I felt her presence beside me, pushing me forward.
I reached the cabin where she had fallen ill, where her journey had ended. Lying there, physically and emotionally drained, memories of her comfort flooded back. Her voice echoed in my mind, reminding me that strength wasn’t about feeling powerful—it was about pushing forward, even in the hardest moments.
The next morning, I woke up with a new sense of purpose. I scattered her ashes beneath the pine trees, saying goodbye, and felt a shift within me. The weight of grief began to lift.
When I finally reached Crabtree Falls, the waterfall was breathtaking, its roar powerful and cleansing. I stepped into the icy water, letting it wash away the pain and fear I’d carried since her death. As the cold enveloped me, I felt renewed, ready to move forward.
The journey wasn’t just about honoring her memory—it was about finding a new beginning. As I left the forest, I knew I wanted to give love and care to someone else, to share the strength my mother had given me. I decided to adopt, to offer a child the chance to shape their own path, just as I had found mine.
My journey wasn’t over. It was just beginning.