DIARY ENTRY #5

Date: October 20

Days gone: 1.5

I made it!! The sun is starting to set, bathing the enourmous mountains and sparkling river in a wash of pinks, oranges and yellows.

Honestly, when I stepped out of the woods and into the clearing, I audibly gasped. I pushed through overgrown grasses and now I’ve dumped my stuff and I’m sitting at the base of the mountain I plan to hike tomorrow.

It’s so beautiful here. It’s absolutely silent, aside from the chirping of birds and bugs. No cars, no people bothering me, nothing but me and my sweet freedom. To celebrate my arrival, I even indulge in half a sandwich I packed with an ice pack in my back pack. AND I finish off a bottle of water.

I sigh and settle back into the rocks, comfortable and content. My bags are next to me, nestled among the boulders. The sunset is rapidly fading and soon it’ll be dark again.

I pull my blanket out of my suitcase and wrap it around myself. I glance up at the now-dark sky and inhale sharply, mesmerized. Since there’s little to no light pollution here in the middle of who knows where, the stars glimmer in the night sky, accompanying the moon. I can’t look away, staring at the stars I so rarely ever see in my surburban town. They’re…gorgeous. There’s really no way to describe it. And I love it.

I lay back onto the soft dirt and huddle into my blanket, still watching the stars glittering above.

Now I’m gonna get to sleep, ready for the adventures of tomorrow, which will definitely include hiking and a river swim.

Peace and love,

Nala