The Climb [PIC2016]

It hadn't always been this way... she thought.

She was climbing to the top of a long forgotten time. One that was treasured by many who'd forgotten just as she. The memories would surely be recalled if she simply kept climbing to the top.

Rai had been climbing ever since she could remember, she and the others. Looking up she was scared of the gnarled and twisted deadly looking branches. They appeared so difficult. While climbing and in deep thought...she snuck a peak over at her comrades only to recoil at seeing herself in-twined so deeply in them and then withered away at treasured moments now lost.

Nor looked back at her and worried about her state of mind. He could see how she'd become lost within the secret rooms of her dark and troubled mind. He had made a secret vow to protect her until he no longer could within this physical realm. This one was different he thought, why did he feel the need so terribly to protect her, after all she had shown through various struggles that she had a great strength within... then suddenly he heard a low shriek and as he looked up from his own troubled thoughts, he realized she'd lost her grip again.

Down she came sliding, desperately grasping for an outstretched branch her tiny hands could grab a hold to. Quickly he maneuvered directly beneath her fall and braced himself between two sturdy V shaped branches as she landed hard in his catch. As he broke her fall, she glared up at him and growled to know why he had to intervene. She grouchily proclaimed she was perfectly ok doing it on her own. As Rai continued on in a huff, Nor sighed a deep sigh feeling totally scorned and rejected, he couldn't understand for the life of him, why she seemed so mad at him.

Nor did not want her to end up like the others who'd fallen. They were so mangled beyond recognition that he feared for her recovery if she ever fell that far. It is this that kept him going on he thought... as he was so tired and ready to move on but he just couldn't, he couldn't leave her behind.

As the days continued on, Rai became stronger and was accomplishing more and more of the climb, she was sure she'd make it to the top soon, very soon. She felt really good about it too. She felt proud and could feel all the burdens slowly burning away in the depths of her mind with each and every motion she took to move higher and higher. As she looked up the distance no longer seemed so far out of reach. Now as she looked over at her companions she felt a deep love for them taking the time to do the climb with her. She wondered what motivated them to do the climb ?

As time went by...

Today felt different to Rai, she no longer felt the need to reach the top. Now as she looked down it seemed way way too far away. She often wondered why she'd left in the first place. She often thought about turning around but felt that this must just be her fears creeping up on her for what she would find once she reached the top. Today as she climbed she glanced around and saw something shimmering off in the distance.

She meandered her way over to the shiny light off on the other side of the tree. A small little distraction to take her mind off her recent conundrum of climbing further up or back down. As she arrived at the little shiny object, she realized it was a mirror. A very old mirror covered in cobwebs and cracked beyond repair, however she couldn't help but notice it was still shining. A reminder that we can always shine no matter how old, or weary we feel we have become.

As she was trying to get a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she saw Nor appear in the reflection of the tiny mirror and got a glimpse of him hanging on behind her. She suddenly realized how huge he appeared in the mirror, she got a glimpse of his massively huge strong wings.

He was absolutely beautiful. He flowed and moved without hesitation or a care in the world. He had moved many things without ever asking a thing in return. Instead of being annoyed as usual, she felt different. She felt a tug at her heart. This magical little mirror finally helped her to see how great Nor was. Rai gasped, she finally remembered that it never had mattered whether she climbed to the top or back to the bottom. She'd been confused and forgotten she realized. The answer had been beside her and inside her all along. She slowly began to cry because she felt as if she'd wasted so much time on needless things. So she cried and finally felt free. Everything around her began to dissolve and she didn't even notice. The only thing she could see was him, Nor was right there next to her she thought.

The wind slowly picked up and Rai with Nor nuging her and by her side, she slowly began to drift gently on the wind, she was a shimmering Emerald Leaf blowing softly in the wind. Rai knew she was taking a lovely journey and it mattered not where she ended up, top or bottom, up or down, left or right, it only mattered how she handled the journey and with Nor by her side she knew she would always succeed.




Thanks for reading, leolady

a reply to: leolady

Wonderful!

Love it!

You should have had 'writer' status moons ago!

a reply to: leolady

Awesome story!
S/F x100

Nicely done LL!
Very touching, and yet again, a nice different take on the images.
Well done you!

BigG

Bonjour Leolady. mi gusta

a reply to: leolady

Hi leolady!

That was really good, I enjoyed reading it.
Was a little disappointed when it was over, lol...I could definitely read more.

S&F&good luck! Agree, you should have your 'writer' status here already.

jacy

Thank you everyone and good luck to you all. I've been reading the stories and they are wonderful.

leolady

I could have read more too!

a reply to: leolady

Oh Nor, you old lovely.
I like the suspense in your story and the unanswered questions, followed by Rai's realisation that she doesn't need to know why. Just accept and embrace the moment.
Very sweetly done.

S&F

B x

a reply to: leolady
Captivatingly unique!

This was quite a different take - mysterious and poetic. Enjoyed it!

- AB