There was always a quest,
A monster, or dragon, a damsel in distress.
And it was always our job
To take the quest, to slay the beast,
And to find the missing prince.
I had always been the mage;
I had thrown the spells, and lit the path.
I had always felt a sense of joy
When the journey was finally over.
But now, I sit and watch
As the leaves trickle to the ground.
There are no more quests,
No more monsters, no beasts,
Just the emptiness of open air.
I stepped off the porch into the world,
That had consumed my childhood.
The images flashed, the town, the city,
And it changed for every year.
I could hear the folk, their conversations,
Pointing, cheering, and saying goodbyes.
I ran to the woods, past the fallen wizard's tower,
Where we had snuck up 20 floors
To reach and save the prince.
It had been tough, the grueling task,
Of climbing the stairs of tricks,
One would vanish, the other tilt,
And then do it all over again.
I slowed to a halt, as I approached our camp,
Supplies was strewn about.
The food had been raided, and the fire
Had also been put out.
Slowly, the images faded and I returned,
sitting once more, alone again.
I was leaving, and I couldn’t help it,
But the memories would stay.
Ahead, my life awaits
And the journeys leave with me.