Without by E. E. Borton

Author:E. E. Borton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781610052481
Publisher: Legacy Road Publishing
Published: 2012-07-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

(Day 14)

Homecoming

It was difficult to judge when I awoke, but I figured I had slept for close to fourteen hours. The sun was hidden behind a blanket of dark grey clouds. I chose to ignore the signs of heavy rain and attempt to trek the last eleven miles to my parents’ house. All I wanted to do was walk through that door, drop my pack, and start my life on the mountain.

After eating my breakfast from a can, I stood on the back deck, taking in the serenity of the canyon. The moment of peace was broken when the wind changed direction, bringing the smell of death from the last cabin on the row. I didn’t need the reminder that things had changed, but it motivated me to start the last leg of my journey as quickly as possible.

Stepping off the deck, I made my way down to the start of the trail that would take me to the canyon floor. It was a three mile hike from the cabin to the north exit of the park, but it was a brutal three miles. Getting down to the creek and waterfalls would be easy. Hiking up and out the other side with a full pack would take more than two hours.

Looking down the first set of stairs on the trail, (all 279 steps), my mind drifted back to my camping date with Sam. I remembered the excitement on her face as she bolted down the stairs. I told her to be careful because most of the path stayed damp and slippery, but she didn’t pay any attention to my warning.

When she went down over a rise, my heart stopped. She couldn’t have picked a more dangerous place to lose her footing. In front of her was the second long set of stairs. Off the narrowest part of the trail to her side, there was a rocky ledge that would send her all the way down to the creek. I didn’t take a breath until I saw her lying on her back with her arms extended, reaching for the sky. She was laughing.

I stood over her with a scowl. I remember her reaching for me, asking why I didn’t tell her it was slippery. But what I remembered most were those few seconds of devastating panic, thinking she was in trouble or hurt. Seeing her embarrassment, watching her smile as she wiped the dirt off her pants, I knew I never wanted to see that beautiful face in pain. I would do whatever it took to protect her. I never failed so completely in my life.

“Why didn’t you tell me it was slick?” asked Sam, coming out of my thoughts, appearing beside me on the trail. “I could’ve gone over, you know.”

“I did tell you,” I said. “But you ignored me. You were like a kid with ADD.”

“I know,” said Sam, taking my hand, continuing our walk. “That was such a good day. The whole weekend was amazing. Well, except for the peeing in the woods thing.

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