She walked through a field of swaying grass, just as the sun kissed a vast valley. Ginger light poured downward, and the breeze held steady, but a whisper of what it could be. In all her days — and the girl couldn’t have been much older than ten — she had never happened upon such a marvelous place. Only in her dreams, had she visited places like this, but never when she woke. Never when her eyes opened, did she wake in a warmly lit field of tall, yellow grass. Nor had she possessed the time to listen to the song of birds overhead. Everything greeted her, and it was magical.

Her surroundings could hardly be put into words, but the way the girl of no more than ten saw it, the universe was sending her a hug. A hug, because she’d never received one, but she imagined it to be this warm. Nothing had ever loved her as much as this, she realized. She’d never been more at peace than this moment.

With every step deeper into the valley of honey-shaded wonder, it became all the more awe-inspiring. Her feet were light, and her blood seemed to finally run through her body again, after being cold for so long. Her fingers had feeling, her heart was full. She had never felt this feeling from any person.

To her, people were untrustworthy. The earth, however, seemed to be the only thing that loved her. In years before, when she was desperate for a drink, a handsome fox would lead her to a stream of water. This moment, though. Yes, this was much different. She felt something greater than all of those small gestures. She felt perfect, blissfully gifted closure. A kind of closure that, she felt in every inch of her bones, softly promising her a safer existence, an unbothered one. It apologized for the many times she had been wronged, and forgave her for the many other times she’d dealt it.

What more could a little girl ask for, then to be loved? To be forgiven, and to receive forgiveness. For, that was a gift greater than death.

She hadn’t the slightest clue to where she was going, but she felt it was far more beautiful than anything else. Like the fox leading her to water, she felt her legs taking her further into magnificent splendor. The girl lifted a foot, and placed it down once more. This time, upon a smooth, stone pathway. When she followed it with her eyes, it seemed never ending. Something told her that was not the case, though. It was a small voice that provided her with a sense of surety. Where she was going next, was a place she would finally be welcome.

Her journey had taken her so far. Starting at harsh thorns and unrelenting winters, from the most disfavorable individuals, to a place that shined brighter than anything she’d ever experienced in her whole life. Odd, was this feeling. Only moments ago, she felt she was choking back tears, like her stomach might tear in two out of hunger. But that had all gone away. Her stomach was full — almost as full as she felt.

Then it came to her. Of course, it all made sense now. This was her safe haven. If only she knew the name of such an overwhelming site. Speaking of such, they were a foreign thing to her. In her mind, names were bestowed upon those important and loved enough to deserve one. The little girl had never been given a name, but in this very moment she heard the gentle call of the winds steady tone call her. A name she thought to be greater than any other.

_“Haven,” _It said. As though a mother she was never aware of, cradled her cheeks and uttered it, so tenderly, with the kind of reverence only a mother could.

As Haven neared the very end of the sun-kissed path, but a little speck amidst such an immense field, the light of said sun grew stronger. It _could have _been blinding, however, it didn’t blind her. It drew her into a stronger embrace.

That field was where Haven had passed. It was the last thing she saw. The earth was benevolent for setting the sun before she faded. Her story was very sad, yes, but her ending was sweet. The loneliness, hunger, thirst, and love she was so deprived of vanished, replaced with a sense of comfort. For once, something welcomed her. No, it was not death, but a _new _type of life. A better kind of living. One where the aches and pains of man and their wickedness did not follow.