Thirteen
Spring arrived in an aroma of colours that Destiny could taste the moment she opened the back door of her cottage. The flowerbeds were in full bloom, and the blue birds sang their highest notes to command their song be heard. She had eagerly laid out her plans for the trip to visit her parents. If she wanted to arrive on her birthday, she’d need to leave in less than two weeks. This Sunday, however, she had decided to explore the open fields and orchards behind her cottage. She packed a small backpack with water and snacks, and started on a hike she would never forget. The birds voiced their alarm at Destiny’s intrusion as she forged a path through the ivy. The fog retreated, allowing a vast landscape to appear before her. Adjusting the straps of her pack, she closed her eyes and
