A message in a bottle, floating in the ether. For reading my story, for making that connection between us... thank you.

"You'll probably need all year before you can really grasp the entirety of it" she said, and she was right as can be.

Even where nothing seems to stir, be it in a quiet town or inside a man called Otto, there is trouble that might not show.

An adult going into the deep to learn to swim... if that is not being vulnerable, I don't know what is.

Reaching Sweden earlier felt right and in my situation, that was something I had to listen to. So I changed my route.

Ironically, life was made easier. There was a tangible threat, mentally much simpler to handle than my illusionary ones.

The dark clouds that had filled my mind disappeared for a moment and a sun shone on me. "It will be alright."

He keeps on going, clinging to the hope that there is yet a way to return to that which he lost and those whom he left.