Once Upon a Time, in a land much like our own, there lived two souls that had never crossed paths. They wandered down their own winding roads that were far, far away from each other. Their roads were dark, scary, and obviously meant to confuse them. Unfortunately, they had no idea what the end held. Success? Love? Money? They could not say. All they could do was trust and hope that their happy ending would come. Although they each had hope, it was hard keeping this faith all on their own. They each thought that they were the only one traveling a dark, scary, and uncertain path, and they were lonely.

Until one day, they each saw a fork in the path they were taking. To the left continued the same long and winding road but to the right, a new trail had sprung up. This new route looked beautiful and lush, and flower buds were beginning to peek up out of the cracks in the road. They had a choice to make. They could continue on their dark, scary, and uncertain path or, they could venture into this beautiful, lush, and thriving new path where Spring was visibly about to take root.

I mean, which path would you choose???

They each took one giant leap into what they perceived to be a leap away from the unknown. Finally, both embraced the warm sun that shone on their once cold, white skin.

Then, they found each other.

The two paths they were taking merged into one as they rounded a corner and saw each other’s face, each glowing with the fresh spring sun. Immediately they knew they had made the right decision. At first, they thought it was selfish to leave the path they had known for so long. But after a while of walking, they knew their paths were meant to be. They spent a long time walking down this beautiful path together. They saw the colors change from bright pinks and greens to the crisp feel of autumn with the leaves falling into large bundles of dark ambers and tranquil yellows. They never thought their paths would ever part again. After all, forces above their control had brought them together. Why would they take them apart?

Until one day, another fork in the road appeared. “How strange!” they thought. They had gone quite some time enjoying the path they had found until this new way emerged. The road to the left looked almost the same as the one they had been on, but the path to the right was something new. However, it resembled the dark, scary, and uncertain path they had escaped from previously. “We need to follow the path most similar to the one we have been on!” one of them said, “it is what we know, and we will be safe.” “No,” the other replied, “we must venture on the new path. Seasons change, and so must we.” However, they could not agree, and it was evident their time to part had come.

Each of them slowly began to walk down the new path they had chosen. Although they each felt the sting of fear, they knew in their gut the time had come to make a change. Before they disappeared out of sight, they each stole a glance back at the somebody they had spend so much time strolling down a sunny spring lane with. With a weary smile and a gentle nod, they rounded the corner of their new long, winding road.