In the quiet village, snowflakes danced through the air.
Under the gloomy sky, pigeons took flight.
The white birch trees stood tall, marked with names carved into their bark.
Among the gray mist, amidst the mountains and forests, a gray-white road stretched towards the horizon.
A dark green jeep sped along, tearing through the endless stretch.
The vehicle resembled a tiny green bug riding a strip of gray paper, moving steadily and resolutely forward.
Yuhong's hand rested on the steering wheel as he hummed a soft tune.
Aside from the hum of the engine, there was silence enveloping him.
The monotonous buzzing sound filled his ears for over two hours, leaving him quite alone.
With the engine noise blaring, he found he could hear his own breathing and heartbeat; his senses heightened in the isolation, becoming almost painfully acute.
Loneliness came as he drove.
Loneliness surrounded him in the sounds of the engine and the desolate road ahead.
Unable to contain himself, he hummed his favorite song from his previous life.
Although he had forgotten some lyrics, he held onto the melody and filled the blanks with soft ‘mm’ sounds.
The jeep continued its quiet journey as Yuhong occasionally glanced at the map.