Sunflowers Didn’t Fix My Loneliness

I hiked Coyote Wall because everyone said the sunflowers were unreal this time of year. They were. Whole hillsides burned yellow, wind cutting through the Gorge, the kind of view that’s supposed to make you feel small in a good way. But standing there, shoes muddy, sun on my face, I just felt hollow. Like I’d shown up to a party everyone else was already enjoying. I took photos I never posted. I kept thinking: maybe if I keep moving, the emptiness will fade. But it followed me down the trail, quiet and patient, all the way back to the car. #TravelLoneliness #HikingTruths #UnfilteredJourneys #Travel