By Tayler Nowak
Bluffton High School senior
I wrote ‘The Never Ending Path’ partly for myself and partly for my mother, trying to make sense of something that I didn’t believe anyone ever would. A more detailed explanation at at the bottom of this column.

The Never Ending Path
The road ahead wasn’t straight, but rounded around different corners that consisted of large oak trees, mountains or simply grassy fields, either way it was all nature; pure and colorful in a way that some people would dream life to be, to wake up and see everything as if with newly born eyes that showed all of the worlds’ content without a single blurry line or dullness to it.

But for all of this to be understood correctly, you must acknowledge and accept and appreciate that the road, in no way, was straight. It curved and rounded on and on, as if it never began and never ended.

It was true. And bright. And wonderful.

The small woman who stood there now, looking on at the greatness of its entirety and breathing it in, couldn’t see a single building in sight and she felt as if she could see the whole world from her view on top of the small hill she hadn’t remembered climbing, yet she felt as if the weight and strain of her climb had fallen away from herself completely and only left the fresh air in her lungs and the calming smell of dew drops on her skin.

Looking down, she realized her feet were in fact bare, the tall grass around them vibrant in green against her pale skin. Each strand brushed against her legs with its’ softness. She had never remembered grass as soft as these ones. It was calming and she let her toes play in the tall grass for a while, until she recalled how spotless her skin was, no dark spots or wrinkles, it was clean and new.

That was the point when she realized she had died. She remembered her life, the beauty of her family and friends and adventures and love and being alive, all the bad parts were forgotten and fell away from her soul like she had fallen away from her daughters’ hand.

She missed life and her loved ones she had left behind but she had a settling, calming feeling rise up in her chest and she knew she would see them all again one day. It wasn’t their time to leave their own adventures yet, but it had been hers. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt the magic and comfort surrounding her within this place and she knew there was a reason.

Perhaps it was poetic; each one of us getting shortened time on earth so we could all appreciate it that much more. It wasn’t always fair, it wasn’t always right, but it was true. Somehow she felt certain that the whole universe was being explained to her in this one single moment that was ceaseless.

It was explained to her through the quiet breeze that blew through her hair, splaying across her neck, and through the grass swaying at her feet and tickling her bare legs, through the delightful sounds of birds chirping happily in the trees, and the ocean waves she could not quite see, but could feel in the distance. And through the long winding road that never ended. It was all explained. It was true.

The woman smiled at the horizon, knowing that everyone she had ever loved was with her in that moment, and took a step down the road.

Author's note on writing this story
Everyone has different beliefs and opinions on what comes after we reach the end of this life. I have struggled with several questions and trying to find my own beliefs that follow my morals and lifestyle, but after losing my Nana and knowing just how difficult it was for my mom to go through that; this story seemed to flow through me.

I wrote this for everyone who didn’t quite understand what beliefs they wanted to choose to value or still don’t, and that’s completely fine to search for what your heart, soul, and mind need.

I have often struggled with finding my own religion in the past because to me it has felt like everyone values their own religion so highly that they want the whole world to see God through their own eyes; when in reality none of us see God or religion in the same way and therefore can’t be expected to worship in a way we don’t find lines up with our morals, values and beliefs.

Everyone should be given a chance to find their own form religion, in a way that feels safe, healthy and respectful to themselves.

That is why I wrote this; for everyone who needs to hear this and for my wonderful Nana. We love and miss you, always and forever.