I was alone in the tunnel, just down to a stretch before the cavern entrance.

The winds drew in one direction

and would not be interrupted. Leaves swirled and thundered, while whiplash of the branches held steady. My
eyes teared, nearly blinded by the harsh dirt, that whirled with the leaves, as the wind held my face in a death
grip. I tried to hold on to a tree, though the branches and leaves lashed at me to knock me off course. I managed
to stay upright, as my knuckles bled from the contact with the tree. The branches above raked my body as I
climbed, so I was fearful of the burns I got from my hike into the forest. Now, nearing my destination, I reached
the cave-mouth. My left arm was ripped from my body and thrown away. I could feel my body broken from the
impact with the rocks, as hundreds of needles spread through my body, and my blood dripped into the dirt. I
stood and limped into the cave. I mustered what energy I could, put the axe over my shoulder, then charged the
10-foot wide opening. As I climbed over the wall, the cave mouth collapsed on me. I was nearly dead, but had
enough energy to drag myself up to a sitting position. The buzz of a flashlight woke me up, as a small pool of
light caressed my face. She was a beautiful young girl, looking to simply be happy with the gift of life. The
smile brought life to her face, as she stood with her blue eyes, amid the black of her hair, and the green blouse
she wore. Her beauty was astounding, and I had seen it many times before. She emerged from the rubble, as she
brushed the dust off her dress. She was immaculate and pristine, with her flawless white skirt and the green
blouse, the last time I saw her. The last time I saw her was when I was young boy. I had choreographed our last
meeting through my unrequited love. I had wanted this moment for so long and it was finally happening, in the
very cave I remembered, where I had come as a small boy, to watch the spring. The legend of the Golden Gate
was true. The Spring of Hope was indeed a spring of Hope, though I did not know it at the time. The waterfall
was frozen that night, so it promised just a trickle of water. I will never forget the radiant light, illuminating the
waterfall above and the Moon shining in through the cave entrance. I know now the light of Hope was really the
light of a dying star, similar to the Sun in the sky. Then, she appeared, as a little girl.