Journey to the West
Harrow International School , Shanghai , Yang , Elina -13
L
ook , the sky turns dimmer and dimmer , spreading shades of dusk that covered the earth . The misty side of the mountain is lightened by golden rays . Not just the sky and the earth surface , but Ling herself is covered in golden waves . Ling settled down slowly , watching and enjoying this last light of the day . By and by this golden light faded and fainted . The rosy tint vanished and the day cooled . Darkness gathered together and became thicker and thicker , the night is coming . Ling crept through the soft ground and went into her tent , soon feel asleep . It is a long night , but after a day of traveling , Ling slept deeply in her sleeping bag , not noticing that the sun has already sneaked from the other side of the earth to here .
Ling is a 16 years old girl who is seeking to find peace in this bustling world . She yearns to listen to the voice of nature . Himalayas , the place she dreams to be , she believed that Himalayas is the only place she can find true peace , true shelter for her heart ! However , her parents are always dissenting with her idea that her dream couldn ’ t come true . Three years ago she found out herself suffering from cancer , and that ’ s when she decides to start the journey to the west .
After a month of traveling , Ling cleaned up her camp swiftly and got up from the ground quickly started another day of long journey . Across the mountain , Ling stood at the highest point of the valley . She took out a map , a compass , pointed into the direction of west , and walked along the path . She kept walking and walking until she can ' t walk any further , she kept looking and looking , hoping to see Himalayas right in front of her . She didn ’ t know how long has past , she no longer knew where she was going , she is lost . The sky turned dark , Ling kept on walking , she is extremely tired , but she is too scared to stop . As time past , Ling felt hopeless , but suddenly , a bright spot light appeared , as Ling got closer it became clearer . Finally , Ling is standing at front of a small wooden house . “ Dong , dong ”, she knocked on the shabby door . After a while , an old man came out and lead her in to a poor filthy bedroom , the old man said coldly , “ You can stay here for tonight , but tomorrow our family is going to leave !” Then he left Ling to sleep .
“ Dong , dong , dong ” The noise outside the room waked Ling up . Ling opened the door and saw the same old man standing there “ We have to go now , you can ’ t stay here anymore .” Said the old man with the same tone . “ Where are you going ?” Ling asked helplessly , “ I want to go to the Himalayas mountain range , can you give me a lift and guide me there ?” The old man walked away ignoring Ling ’ s request . After a while , the old man and his family appeared . The old man asked “ Are you going or not ?” Right from then , she started her journey to the west .
Ling followed the old Chinese family all the way to the west until they reached a broad highway . Everyone in the family started to make long kowtows , they put their hands over their head ’ s and slowly came down to chest , and every 3 steps they walk they do one kowtow . They repeated it again and again . Ling realized that they are all believers in the family who pray all the way from here to the Himalayas . Ling watched them doing kowtows one by one without stopping , and it last for so long that Ling can not bear the anxious in her mind but asking the old man “ Why are you doing this ? What is it for ? It ’ s wasting time ! Why don ’ t you guys just walk properly ? It is much faster !” The old man answered calmly “ It is what we are born to do , it ’ s our religion . Every step , every kowtow , every greet is our meaning for life , we pray for all man on earth , and this is faith . The road of prayers is meant to be tough , if you want to give up , then go now .” Ling looked up to the endless road , she had no choice but to keep up with the guys , to keep up with her dream .
Ling followed they day by day , month by month , years by years . However , they still haven ’ t arrived yet . One day , when Ling woke up and opened her eyes , she can ’ t see clear , and all of a sudden , she felt that her throat is cut opened and she can ’ t breath . She was terrified , and she struggled to try to breath in air , a few minutes later , she is finally well again . Ling quickly grabbed some medicine from her bag and swallowed it . The old man came to Ling and said “ Young lady , go , you don ’ t have to stay with us , if you have something that you want to do , go do it , just go ” The old man went away after saying that to Ling .