The sand is reaching as far as I can see. It’s a gray type of sand, covered with millions of small, gray pebbles. Here and there, a bigger rock. There are no trees. The landscape is surrounding me, embracing my body and soul. The sun is shining through the dust clouds in the air. What am I doing here you might ask. The answer is that I have nowhere else to go. This is the world I am living in. Since ages I have been walking through this desert and never met a soul. Sometimes, people have passed by, but never made any contact really. You have to carry a weapon in this country, because anyone you meet could be your enemy. And even more importantly, you need cover. If you are unlucky, they will take whatever you have and leave you there in the middle of nowhere. For another five days, I walk towards a mountain. Could not tell how far it is, probably another week.

A reflection about a thousand steps away, behind a rock. It is trying to get my attention. A small glimpse of hope. Maybe this time, it will be it. Something different. A tree, a plant or a small puddle of water. When the days are getting long and tiresome, I watch the patterns forming on the ground in front of me as I walk. Lines, triangles, circles, soft waves. Sand, stones and shadows. Cannot remember being born into this land, so it must been an awful long time ago. Where I come from is also hidden behind a wall of blurred memories. Must have been similar people like me, who decided or did not, to have a son. To continue their struggle after they had passed away. In the beginning, it bothered me a lot to walk. It hurt my feet and legs, because they were not used to it. Now? It is more or less the same. The sameness in itself is something that encompasses everything around me and everything I meet, see, touch and smell. Everything and everyone and anytime. This walk will prepare me and the longer I walk, I realize that it will prepare for this very sameness. One second, it will be part of me and me part of it. It will have no boundaries. Once I was frightened but the fear has now been replaced with a question – what is there? This is the only thing that keeps me going. Behind that next stone, there will be something, which I have not seen and which will give an answer. If I cannot find it, another traveler will have to take my stick and continue. Another step into the country of rocks.