The walk

Evening stroll

I had a weekend that was, honestly, pretty boring. So instead of staying in the house with nothing much going on, I decided to go for a stroll around the area. Even before I stepped out, I felt a little uneasy, because I’m the kind of person who finds walking new roads alone a bit scary. What if I got lost? What if I couldn’t find my way back? But somewhere inside me, I whispered, Even if I get lost, I will find my way back.

So I walked. At first, I moved slowly, deliberately. I kept looking at my surroundings and was very conscious of each step and every turn. The evening was quiet, and the breeze started to pick up a gentle chill,which somehow made the moment feel peaceful. There’s something about an evening walk, the sky softens, the air cools down, and your mind relaxes. I felt that calm wash over me as I walked.
Not far from my house, I passed by a small garden I had never really paid attention to before. But today, I paused. Something about the way the flowers moved with the wind and the light hit the leaves made it look especially beautiful. It wasn’t a big garden, nothing loud or fancy, but in that moment, it looked like a tiny piece of peace like nature's way of saying, “slow down and breathe.” I stood there for a while, taking in the view, that quiet moment alone made the stroll worth it.

As I continued, the unfamiliar environment started to feel less intimidating. I saw new faces. I met people I had never seen before, exchanging short "hello”s and “good evenings.” I noticed a few houses I’d never passed, a small alley tucked away, and a little stand where someone was selling snacks. Everything felt a little more alive because I was looking at it fresh.
In the distance, I saw a cluster of trees that caught my eye. They weren’t grand or tall, they were just trees, but from the angle I was, they looked like a good landmark. So I made them my target. When I reach those trees, I thought, I’ll turn around and head back home. At first, they seemed so close. I even took a photo of them, thinking I’d use the photo to help me remember the way back. But the more I walked, the farther they actually looked. I laughed at the realization, I had thought it would be a quick detour.

My legs grew tired. My feet started asking for a rest. I glanced at my watch and saw the light was changing fast. Evening was turning into night, and I knew it wouldn’t be smart to go too far. So despite having planned to reach those trees and then return, I made a decision, I’ll turn back now. The path wasn’t one I recognized well enough to push further. Better safe
So I made the tree my next target for another day, it was really a nice walk indeed