The chirping sounds of the birds as they perched on the tree awakened me from sleep. I could not but notice the sun as it rose beautifully across the mountains. Towards the east, I could see the mountains closer than when I first started the journey. At the beginning of the journey, my goal was to reach the mountains as soon as possible. However, after the last rainfall, I decided to enjoy my trip rather than watch the time. I was thinking about the previous night’s rainfall when I heard Espera clear his throat. He had taken me through the rain, and a bumpy road along the way. This narrow road could only be passed through with a compass. A manual or living one. Espera was the latter. He had been in Verde for many years and knew every nook and cranny of the road. He also helped several passengers on their way to the mountains. Only a few people, however, opted for his help along the way. Just like others, I thought I wouldn’t need his help until the last rainfall.
“I suppose you slept well?” he asked. “I haven’t slept this well in a while. You know how rough the road could be for travellers going to the mountains. It’s tough without any help”, I responded. “I know how it could be, Avi. That’s why I’m here, he said. Get dressed, we must continue this journey. “Can we rest for one more hour? I asked. “The only ones who rest are those who live where time does not exist”, Espera replied. I rolled my eyes and reminded him of how he brings up new quotes every day. He chuckled and went on to put my things together for me.
We set out around midday. The roads were dry and the leaves on the trees were bouncing towards the sunlight. As we journeyed, I could not have been more grateful and comforted that Espera was with me along the way. We kept moving towards the mountains and he began to tell me stories. “Do you remember Mrs Brown? I walked her to the mountains last summer”. I had known the Browns. Mr Brown sold newspapers at the entrance of Verde and passengers who walked to the mountains knew him. His wife, who Espera had helped, taught young girls how to make flower pots along the road leading to the mountains. She had no children of her own yet, she was usually so eager to train young girls and kept a good attitude always.
As we approached the mountains, I began to see familiar faces. My neighbour’s daughter, Hilda, who was about my age, had been on the same road and was tending the trees. Espera had brought her to the mountains and now, she volunteered to tend the flowers along the road for others as others were coming. I had also seen Toku, a young boy who we all knew in the market. He swept the market on market days. He also volunteered as the cleaner on the highway that leads to the mountains. His uncle had advised him to accept help from Espera.
Continuing my journey, I saw more familiar and unfamiliar faces. They were all busy working, preparing for others who were going to be arriving in the mountains. One thing became clear to me; everyone who had been to the mountains knew Espera. Everyone waved, hollered or smiled at him as we walked on. I became more inquisitive. I badly wanted to arrive at my destination but much more, I wanted to know who this man really was. We had all known him on the streets of Verde but not many of us made any attempts to know where he lived or who his family was.
I began to ask him questions. Who are you, Espera? What do you do? How do you know this much and yet no one knows until they meet you personally? With all these questions in mind, my quest on the Verde road changed. At first, I wanted to get to the mountains (which were so bright and beautiful) in no time, but then, I met Espera and everything changed. I met a man who taught me, led me willingly, carried my troubles like his, wiped my tears and made me laugh when I thought it was impossible to laugh again.
So, here I am, on the way to the mountains, walking with a man I met on the road, a man who has become my friend, a man who changed my perspective and my whole life with these words – “Just walk with me.”