From Fear to Comfort

There were no streetlights on this rural road from the airport to the center of Udaipur. Blanketed in the pitch black darkness of rural India where light pollution was not a thing, the only lights that flickered were those of the massive trucks driving by, which both comforted and worried me at the same time. I had gotten out of the car and waited, somehow feeling safer that way. But by now, I was nervous for real, my stomach a bit in knots. Though the driver was kind and apologetic for the inconvenience, I couldn’t help thinking of what ugly things could unfold. I kept pushing the thoughts out of my mind. But the minutes continued to pass and my dread continued to increase. I silently prayed to the universe that all would be fine. And it was.