Blown by a westerly wind, I found myself stepping in and amongst the bones of the Desert of Regret. Steep valleys of twisted, jagged rock curled over me as I made my way through. Hundreds of souls had lost their way here. I felt it myself. When the wind picked up, and the grains of sand found their way to me, I saw visions of what was before. My soul shuddered and ached, for a moment I thought to drop to my knees and whisper my sorrow to the other souls beneath my feet. The deepest memory, the oldest echo, the calling of a name I had forgotten, all danced their way into my very essence. I laid down, for it was only a moment, and I only need remember. It was not an ache, but release, I thought. 

The cold, drifting sand welcomed me. It shrouded me from my ignorance. This was the truth, in all it’s pain. It was a release, and a choking leash all the same.I felt I understood. The skeletal remains of those I had drifted over had taken form in the time I had lay there. Five or six in number, they shambled toward me, against the whistling wind. Some of them were missing ribs, fingers, and parts of their skull. My eyes open, I watched as they slowly approached me, limping and chattering. It was after a few timeless minutes that they stood before me.

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I stood, facing my visitors. With only a moment between us, the one missing fingers and with a rock lodged in one eyesocket stepped forward. I felt no hesistancy. We shared in this place. We shared in this pain. His skeletal arms raised, outstretched, and embraced me.The rest of them followed, placing their arms around me, and around one another. I felt it all. All of the suffering lay waste to these souls that once were. Still, enveloped by pain, they chose to love me. Releasing their arms from me, standing back, the one who had initially embraced me pointed past. I looked for expression in the empty skull. Without regard, it still pointed beyond. Barely above the howls of the wind, I said “Thank you.” It’s hand lowered. I began to walk, again, through the desert. Cresting a rocky hill, several hundred meters away, I turned back. Still, they stood in the desert. I could not feel if they looked at me.