As I took slow steps towards the exit of the village, the old man appeared in front of me once again. In his hands, he held a sturdy rope and two sharp hooks. The old man approached me with slow steps and handed me the items in his hands.
"Here," he said with a gentle smile. "You'll need these on your journey. They won't do me any good anymore."
I didn't understand why he had them or why he was giving them to me, but his sincerity was evident.
"Thank you," I said gratefully as I took the equipment from the old man's hands.
I continued on my way, knowing where I was headed but also realizing that the road ahead would be dangerous. The fact that the old man had given me these tools only confirmed my suspicions. Why couldn't things ever be easy?
