“Welcome! We’ve been waiting for you. Follow me…”

-you’ve been walking for a long time. Your boots are sagging from moisture, your hair has been crystallized by wind funneled through mountain peaks, and your skin feels like stale bread, crusted and dry. You’ve been eating snow for thirst and haven’t had a scrap of food for several days. Your eyes and heart feel heavy from the lack of sleep…but now you’re here.

You’ve arrived. Somehow you did it. By the end you didn’t even know you were doing it. The cells of your tired body were animated, aware of the job they had to do. They walked on their own accord *for* you.

You’re almost surprised to find yourself here, maybe this is death? Did you die up on those peaks? No. There cannot be thirst in death.

It’s been a long time since you’ve seen a friendly face. You didn’t know that you would be greeted with one once you got here. It’s such a relief that you almost faint right there on the marble threshold, just a few steps inside the place you’ve been trying to reach for four years, almost to the day.

The Red Entity presents itself in a friendlier form now. You can relax. It’s time.

*9”x12” oil on wood panel