What is one symbol in the story "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty and what does it symbolize?

Welty's "A Worn Path" is about indifferent social and
political forces acting on an individual, and the path that
individual takes represents her life and experience and
existence. 

Notice that no one is really out to get her or
put her down and make the journey difficult for her, but nobody really tries to help her
either.  This is emblematic of her existence. 

The path is
difficult for her, even though no one, and especially nature, tries
to make it difficult.  She must go under fences, up hills, and over water.  She is "in
over her head," as the cliche goes.

And why must she take
this path?  Because a little boy made an innocent mistake--he swallowed lye.  If you
don't know what lye is, thiink crystal Drano--that's what it's made of.  The lye burnt
his throat and he will die without the medication the old woman travels to town to
get. 

The path is the central symbol of the story--thus the
name.  It's what the woman must suffer to keep the boy alive.