The Tracks Ahead

This piece holds the memory of two places and two very different times in my life.

The first was during my childhood, when I was locked inside a room in an old house. What remains of that place is mostly pain, fear, and the sound of a train whistle. The tracks were so close that every passing train shook the walls around me.

Yet somehow, there was comfort in that sound.

From inside that room, I would imagine the train carrying me far away from the darkness. In my mind, those seemingly endless tracks always led somewhere better—to freedom, safety, and the light I believed had to exist beyond everything I knew.

Years later, after countless foster-care placements, I went to live with my grandparents. There were railroad tracks not far from their home, too. For the first time, I was able to walk along them and feel the rails vibrating beneath my feet as a train approached.

But this time, I no longer imagined waiting for a train to rescue me.

I looked down those endless tracks and imagined walking them myself—moving forward freely, exploring whatever waited beyond the horizon, and experiencing each new moment without fear.

The Tracks Ahead is about the distance between those two memories: the child who dreamed of being carried away and the survivor who eventually realized she could choose her own direction. The bright light at the end is no longer simply an escape. It represents freedom, possibility, and every part of life still waiting to be discovered.

This painting was inspired by a photograph I personally took near one of those homes when I finally returned to face that part of my past. There is so much strength and power held within this piece. My hope is that when you stand before it, you can feel some of the life, courage, and resilience carried through every layer—and remember that even the darkest tracks can lead us toward the light.

The Tracks Ahead is available as a fine-art print or printed on canvas.

Price below is for a 24x30 print on canvas.