Every Day, The Same Story.

There isn't always a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes, more often than not, the tunnel never ends. You just keep walking in perpetual darkness - walking and walking until you tire yourself out. Someone said, "keep going, don't give up, remember why you started in the first place." Okay, well, why did you enter the tunnel when you knew it could be dangerous?

The obsidian rocks - or not, because all you see is nothing. It's all dark. When you started, it was only 8 am, still a burst of light entered the mouth of the tunnel, illuminating your route to a few hundred meters. All you decided to carry with you were some energy bars, a bottle of water, a flashlight without batteries, your phone with some charge left, and not much else. You assumed it would take you an hour tops to map the entire tunnel and come out the other side, victorious. Oh, how wrong you were.

Once the sunlight light dimmed and stopped dancing on the rocks completely, you turned on the flash of your phone camera. Unfortunately, you found out, too late, that your flashlight was without a power source. The phone, an old, cheap, and sturdy model, carried you for a good hour before it too gave up. If only you had remembered to pack batteries, a portable charger, another canteen of water, and some more food. This entire expedition was now turning on its head. At this point, you are thinking to yourself, "Why?"

Why did you com here? You, who hates adventure. You who would rather sit under a tree with a book. Why, indeed, are you here?

To feel something.

After what seemed like an eternity of hopelessness, you felt like you wanted to explore. You wanted to see something new, feel something new. What better than the literal light at the end of the tunnel? You thought it would make for a great project. Visit tunnels around town and capture the moment when you finally see the not so metaphorical light shining on you. You would call it "Hope Is Hard Work". Well, it wasn't a bad plan, until you picked the wrong tunnel.

And, now you find yourself in a fix. You have no idea what to do. So, you take a moment to assess the situation. You have read countless books and you can definitely come up with a solution.

First, it is not cold inside the tunnel, it is not a cave, so you at least do not need to start a fire.

Second, you do not really have an appetite, so the energy bars will last you a couple of hours or even more.

Third, you are so lost inside the tunnel, you no longer know which direction you came from. Even if you were to start walking in the 'assumed' opposite direction , where would it lead?

Nevertheless, you turn around and start walking.

You are walking and walking. Again, it is so dark inside, all you can do is worry about where you are placing your feet. You are sweating now - a combination of the physical strain, fear, and nerves. You are well and truly lost. You have tried both directions and walked for as far as you could manage before turning back. Good thing you are not claustrophobic.

It is pitch black. You are tired. You no longer have any sense of direction. So, you do the only thing you can think of. You sit. Wipe your sweat and eat one of your three energy bars. You drink some water, only a little. You can feel an impending doom weighing you down. What if this is it? What if you never get out?

Well let's just wait now. Anything is possible. Maybe this is your gateway to a magical land? No? You snort at that idea. No magical lands await you. This might just be it.

Let's peak inside your mind for a bit.

Oh, man. So disappointing. Why did no one tell me about this tunnel? Maybe this one was never finished and it just goes deeper and deeper inside the hill with no end yet made. Why did I do this to myself? Did I subconsciously know that this tunnel might not have an end? Did I come here knowing full well I may never get out? Damn. That's too dark. Why does it feel so peaceful? It is so quiet here. Is it the lack of people or the noisy streets? No cars, no phone notifications, no people. Just me, in the darkness. Wow, now I am smiling. There is something really wrong with me. But, enough of that. I need to find a way out before I completely give up.

Phew. What a ride.

You get up and start walking to your right. You continue walking for a good half an hour before you realise you left your bottle of water back at your stop - what with it being so dark and all. You sigh to yourself, stomp your feet a little. But, you decide it is not worth going all the way to get it. But, how long are you planning to walk anyway?

I am so tired. I don't even have water. Even if I go back, I wouldn't even know where to find the bottle. Oh god, why! No. Think straight. I can do this. I can do anything I want. There is no one here to stop me, no one here whispering I am not enough, or that I am a loser and I don't work hard. There is NO ONE HERE. Let us just keep going, I got this.

Wow. That was some pep talk. But, do you really got this? eh...

What was that?? I just felt something brush my cheek. Holy crap, was that a bat? I will freak out if there is a bat inside this tunnel with me. What if there are more? Oh no. Oh, no. Oh, no no no. Hell, no. I am getting out of here.

Whoa. This is possibly the fastest you have ever walked. Didn't think you had it in you, huh? You are so determined. Have you ever been this determined for anything? No?

WAIT! Was that not a sliver of light just now on that rock? I hope my mind isn't playing tricks on me. I better find that light.

You are really running now. You are gunning it, like there is someone after you. You know those dreams where you are running as if being chased? Just a little bit further now.

I could cry right now. Oh wait, I already am. I finally see it. Is this how it feels? Is this how it feels to get what you really want? It's there, in plain sight. I can almost touch it now, the sunlight, now on my fingers, my arm, my shoulder, and then shining on me, kissing my skin, ever so gently. What will I see if I look back now? Honestly, I don't want to find out.

You finally did it. You found the light at the end of the tunnel. Not a metaphorical tunnel, a literal tunnel you entered exactly three hours ago. It was just really, really long. You have read countless books. You, as always, started spinning tales, made it way more exciting than it needed to be. But, all in all, it was definitely a fun adventure. You decide to do it again sometime.

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