A is for

Andy scuffed his foot over the hard packed, dusty dirt road, staring at the cracks in the surface, and hitched his pack into a more comfortable position.  His shoulders had been rubbed raw long ago and thick callouses had formed where the straps of his pack had chafed for the past three months.  He'd started out walking for no other reason than to walk, but his pilgrimage seemed to morph into something more.  Something deeper. 

He felt grimy.  Dust was etched into the creases and folds of his clothing.  He hadn't seen a proper shower in weeks; instead, rivers, lakes, and streams had become Andy's bathing vessels.  Never able to fully cleanse himself, Andy had taken to side roads and copses to avoid the looks often caste his way when he encountered anyone.  These detours often left him without human interaction for long stretches of time. 

The road leading to the small, faded church stretched out in front of him, appearing longer with each step he took.  Surrounded by golden wheat fields and spotted groups of trees, the lonesome church was the first offering of shelter Andy had seen in a while; and Andy desperately wanted some shelter.

When he reached the front of the church, there was a stillness to the air that was only broken by the occasional chirp of birds roosting in the trees and eaves.  The wooden steps, leading to a set of doors, sagged in the middle and splintered in various places.  Scratches had been etched into the posts holding the railings on either side of the risers, whether from animals or humans, Andy couldn't tell.  Mounting the steps, Andy pushed open the door on the right side and stepped inside.  He set his pack in the last pew on the left and scanned the church.

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This post is for the 2016 A-Z Blogging Challenge and the story will continue tomorrow!  Feedback is always appreciated :)  Happy blogging (and reading), fellow A-Zers!