Deep under the brush and rocks of the earth lives a place untouched by the sun. Small creatures shuffle about, relying on the whispering of vibrations to help them find their way. Stalactites hang like ancient teeth, silently growing, while crystal clear mineral pools whisper the secrets of the relics of time.

Our stop at the Sonora Caverns was an on-a-whim decision. My husband and I had talked about taking a separate trip out, but on the drive home we had made good time and we weren’t ready for the magic to end. Coming from nights of endless stars, it was almost poetic to trade the vastness of the night for the mystery of the earth beneath our feet.

Inside, the air was cool compared to the land above, humidity carrying the scent of stone and time. Every step echoed off the next as we moved along the narrow path, careful not to touch the ancient walls that carried thousands of years of stories. Our shadows danced along the folds of the cave. The deeper we got, the more our lungs had to learn a slower rhythm, but our curiosity led us deeper. It was hard not to feel small in a place so vast. You’d think being underground, everything would feel confining, yet the ceilings rose like the walls of cathedrals carved by ancient hands over time.

And then there were the people. The sort you would see as characters in the game of Clue… minus the murder part, of course. (This wasn’t White Lotus.) Our guide, the wanderer. A man who seemingly has been everywhere but belonged to nowhere. He was the kind of person that stories come to life with, explaining the cave like it was his old friend.

Two sisters from Italy whispered excitedly to each other the deeper and darker the cave became. A mom and her preteen son followed hurriedly behind, trying to contain their curiosity. Then there was a man you could tell was well off… not flashy other than his shiny BMW that he drove up with. He was shy but making an active effort to talk to everyone. And finally, the Tik Tok couple who started the tour off arguing about content but ended up surrendering to the magic of the cave.

It is hard to believe we almost didn’t stop. That we almost let a beautiful, freeing experience be taken over by expectation. But the best parts of life don’t always follow a schedule or require an RSVP. Sometimes they wait for the part where you linger. To slow down and let time slow down with you.

When we finally stepped out into the sunlight once more, I felt more than awestruck. I felt grateful. Grateful for the detour, for the strangers that became part of the story, for the reminder that the beautiful things in life aren’t always that far away from you… Sometimes it’s right beneath your feet, waiting for you.

Love,

Shay

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