I woke up in an unfamiliar village . After a whole lot of explaining , I found out that the villagers saved me just about when they were going to snatch my belongings and brought me back to their village . Which was good . And the bad news that always follows is that now I was off track . In other words , I had to use double the time to catch up . I was utterly exhausted by now . I never seemed to see the ending of the path , the rising of the sun , the boundary of my destination . I started to feel despair , and questioned my decision . Then I met him .
I met him on yet another day of torturous journeying . I stumbled across a campfire and he was taking a rest there . We were like-minded , and soon we became fast friends . He … is quite the optimist . He always told me , “ No matter what you encounter , what you meet ; no matter how many times you failed , how many times you feel everything is lost , if you don ’ t give up , you will succeed .” I was about to give up when he asked me , looking puzzled , “ Then , what did you journey so long for ?” it seemed to stir something within me . Images of painting Xuanzang ’ s journey to the West with Nai Nai flashed before me . “ Go , and start your adventure …” her words echoed again and again in my foggy mind . I heard a sweet , childish voice saying loudly what I promised her . “ A new generation , a new journey …” I muttered . My heart picked up pace again . “ Yes …” I breathed , “ Yes ! Thank you , thank you !” He supported me , stuck with me through thick and thin – when I was tired , he would encourage me ; when I felt down , he would support me . Slowly , I picked up hope again , and I finally reached my destination .
Looking at the soft glowing rays of the sun which cast on the dusty ochre paths , I finally realized that no matter wherever I went , no matter how many journeys I embarked on , I was no longer lost , no longer homeless . Because wherever he was with me , I would be home . “ Come on , you ’ ve been staring at the ruins for minutes now ,” gently , he took my hands , his chocolate brown eyes full of concern , scanning my face for any sign of something wrong . I turned to the brown-eyed boy beside me and smiled . “ Come on , let ’ s go .”