The Secret My Mother Took to the Grave: Uncovering Her Unfinished Journey After Her Passing

After My Mother’s Death, I Uncovered a Life-Changing Secret on the Journey She Never Completed – Story of the Day

I assumed this would be an easy journey. My mother’s ashes, the forest she never finished, and myself. But as I ventured farther into the forest, I became aware of another surprise. Something I never would have predicted. Something that would permanently alter my life.

At my mother’s funeral, I had the impression that the ground had collapsed beneath me. Though it was whispering through the trees, the air felt unsettling. All it brought to mind was the quiet she had left behind.

My mother was the person I could always turn to when things became too heavy; she was my best friend. Now that she was gone, the silence felt oppressive.

Aunt Claire held my hand and murmured, “I’m so sorry for your loss, Thea.” “It’s difficult right now, but things will get better with time. You’ll discover.

I was at a loss for words, so I just nodded.

Does time heal? No. Time is not a healer. It just makes the agony ache farther and more intensely.

It seemed like she was going to disappear at any moment. Even worse, I was unable to conceive. The thought of a future without her, of leaving behind memories, seemed futile.

What remained of me?

I couldn’t take it when my family tried to encircle me and fill the emptiness with their words and presence. The empty agony that throbbed inside of me was incomprehensible to them.

Her absence permeated every area of our home. Her favorite blanket was still draped over the armchair, and the air was filled with her perfume.

I gazed over her worn-out, ancient journal, which she had utilized to map out her ideal trek through the forest to reach Crabtree Falls.

She never got to see it through. That had been snatched from her by her disease, just as it had taken her from me. I felt an odd attraction toward the diary as I brushed my fingertips along its weathered edges.

I’m going to carry on her adventure.

Although I couldn’t save her life, I could continue on the path she never did.

When I told my family the following day, they responded exactly as I had anticipated. With a worried expression on his face, my brother shook his head.

“Thea, you’re not serious at all. Entering the wilderness by yourself? It’s risky.

“You ought to remain here,” Aunt Claire murmured. “With relatives. Nothing needs to be done by you.

However, I did. I needed to feel connected to her, needed a deeper connection than recollections and deserted rooms.

She desired to complete the voyage, and I shall now. For her.

As I packed my luggage, their objections became inconsequential background noise. The diary was frayed and brittle when I took it with me. She had handwritten on every page.

The final page was still blank and in waiting. It needed to be filled by me. I could finally face the solitude she left behind in the forest, where it spoke to me.

Not alone was the forest a challenge. It was a conflict. It felt like a test at every level, and I wasn’t sure I had what it took to pass.

“Thea, come on,” I whispered to myself. “One step at a time, please.”

But even as I was speaking, I could feel my weariness tugging at me. I needed to stabilize myself after slipping on the muddy walk and grabbing a branch.

“Aww! This filth! Shaking my foot away from the viscous mass, I moaned.

My boots were wet with moisture and the cold, which made me feel quite cold. My legs felt heavy and all of my muscles ached.

The forest appeared to go on forever, a never-ending web of shadows and trees.

I halted when I got to the river and just stared at the water. After the rain, it had risen and appeared untamed.

“Are you serious?” Feeling annoyed, I stated aloud. “How am I meant to get over that?”

I gasped when I stepped into the water.

“Oh! That is extremely cold!

A shiver ran up my spine as the cold bit at my legs. Determined to make it, I kept my attention on the other side. However, the river pressed harder than I had anticipated against me. The rocks made my feet slip, making it difficult for me to maintain my equilibrium.

“Remain upright, do not fall!” I tightened my grasp on my rucksack and chanted to myself. However, as soon as I spoke, my foot stepped on something submerged.

“No! No!”

I stared in horror as the bag slid out of my hands and was carried away by the river.

“Oh no! No, no, no! I yelled, reaching out to grab hold of it, but it was gone.

I stood motionless, observing my provisions vanishing down the creek.

Fantastic. Excellent. What now, mother? Now what should I do?

Her journal and the urn containing her ashes were all that remained, securely nestled inside my jacket. I pulled them in closer to my chest, like maybe clinging to them would help her return.

I bit back my throat to swallow, whispering, “At least I still have you.”

I forced myself to stand up, my entire body wailing in rebellion. The way ahead felt like it would never end, and my legs felt like lead.

Going up the slope was excruciating. I fell heavily as my foot slipped on a root.

“Aww! Oh please, hurry up! I yelled while gripping my arm.

My body was shot with a searing ache. I lay there for a while, breathing heavily, and looking up at the lowering sky. I shut my eyes.

“Mum, are you present?” I muttered. “I’m not sure if I can pull this off. I’m extremely worn out.

Naturally, there was no response. The sound of the wind whispering through the trees. I started crying. I was sobbing aloud.

“A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a…”

once more and once more. Many times. My suffering was intense.

“Woo-o-o-o-o! A-a-a-a-a!

Too tired to move, I lay down on the ground and closed my eyes. My power appeared to be drained by the cold dirt. Abruptly, a recollection emerged…

As a child, I can recall being ill, having a fever, and feeling powerless. In my bed, she was lying beside me.

I muttered, “Mom, I can’t do this anymore.”

She gave a soft smile.

“You know why we gave you the name Thea?”

I gave a headshake.

“Theo” denotes “God.”

“Your name should be strong and serve as a constant reminder that you are never alone, as your father and I intended. God gave you as a gift. Thea, you have power in that name.

“Yet I don’t feel resilient,” I said, on the verge of tears.

She bent inward.

“My love, strength doesn’t always feel strong. It’s understanding that God is with you through the good times and the bad. You always possess that inner strength.

Now, as I lay there in the jungle, broken and lost, her words were still echoing in my head.

“Thea, you underestimate your strength. She said, “You’re never alone,” as though she were sitting next to me again.

My eyes opened, and I saw the sky.

My mother’s remarks gave me the willpower to press on. I overcame the anguish by taking one cautious step at a time. My legs burned and my arm throbbed, yet I was unable to stop. Not quite yet.

Then I caught a glimpse of the cabin through the trees.

“Oh, thank God,” I exhaled as I staggered in its direction.

I had heard about this place from Mom. It gave me a tiny sense of encouragement and assurance that I could get through.

I reached for the door and murmured, “Mom, I’m here.” “I’m going to see this through. For you.

I felt the familiar anguish seeping into my body as soon as I entered the cabin and felt the cold air strike me like a wave. My body hurt, my brain swirled, and I felt like I had a fever.

My mother had experienced the same thing. Too weak to move, I fell to the floor and stared at the ancient wooden ceiling.

That took place here. This is the location where she became ill and was discovered by the rescue crew. And here I am, exactly where I was before, experiencing the same weakness.

I lay there helpless against it. My mind caved up for a split second along with my body.

I mumbled, “I can’t do this,” my eyes heavy with fatigue. “I’m not powerful enough.”

As I dozed off, the room around me became hazy and the boundaries vanished. I dreamed about her that night in the solitude of the cottage. She materialized next to me, grinning.

“Mum? I truly regret hurting you.

It’s time to say goodbye, sweetie. There is no longer any pain.

“I’m not sure if I can. Without you, I’m not sure how I’ll manage.

Mom reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair away from my face, the way Mom always did when I was a child.

“Thea, you can. Though this is now your path, I will always be by your side. You must traverse it by yourself.

Although I wanted to cling to her, I knew she was correct. I choose to walk this route.

The morning light came streaming through the gaps in the walls of the hut when I woke up. It was not a physical agony. I came to the realization that this journey was about letting go since I had been clinging onto her for far too long.

I got up slowly, removed the urn containing her ashes, and went outdoors.

I finally let her go, whispering, “Goodbye, Mom,” and spreading her ashes.

In the early morning light, the pine trees were drifting slowly. I was eager to wrap up my journey by myself.

My jaw dropped at the sight of Crabtree Falls when I arrived. With a loud roar, the water from the waterfall plunged down the rocks and into the pool below.

The air was thick with mist, which swirled about me as though the town itself was welcoming me. For a little while, I remained motionless as I absorbed everything.

“I succeeded.”

I started taking off my soiled clothing without giving it any thought. I didn’t mind that the chilly wind was rubbing across my skin. I moved in the direction of the river and felt the cold mist on my face.

I stopped when the water was up to my waist to allow the bitter cold to take hold.

I spoke out loud, “This is for me and for you.”

I dipped into the water and felt the full blast of cold take hold of me. My air left me due to the shock, but I remained underneath and allowed the water to cascade over my body.

The grief, fear, and sadness that I had brought with me on this voyage were all being stripped away by the waterfall. It was removing everything, leaving me naked, clean, and revitalized.

I felt strange when I eventually got to my feet, the water trickling off of me. Something had changed within me. It seemed as though the burden I had been carrying ever since my mother passed away had lifted.

“I’m able to move on.”

I hastily put on my clothes and headed out of the waterfall. There wasn’t much of a road, so I flagged down an oncoming automobile.

“Need a ride?” inquired the driver, an elderly woman with kindly eyes, as she drew over.

“Sure, please,” I said as I climbed in.

I looked out the window as we were driving, watching the forest go by in a rush. I was infused with a new purpose: I wanted to help someone in need by showing them love and caring.

I made the decision right then and there to adopt a child in order to provide them the opportunity to choose their own course in life.

My voyage had not ended. It was only getting started.

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