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The Summit

            “Next oxygen station is about a mile ahead.” Brain’s voice rings in my ears like TV static as I tug my boot free from an icy crater, my eyes narrowed ahead at the distant clouds that hang in the air over what I can only imagine to be the summit. The summit. The word rattles around in my brain. It’s what I’ve been working toward for half a year of my life. A surge of motivation floods through my veins as I dig my boots into the snow and grip the straps of the massive backpack that holds everything I need in order to survive. We move for what seems like ages, the wind biting at my cheeks, feeling like being pricked with needles, and my nose running uncontrollably. 

           “How far have we gone?” I ask Brian, shaking my gloved hands to regain any warmth they once had. 

            “I assume it’s been about a quarter of a mile now.” 

His words linger in my mind. My brain feels like a jumbled mess. I suck in a gasp of air. It seems to stop short. The thoughts whizzing back and forth in my head come to a complete halt, and my mind goes blank for an instant. My chest feels tight. I try to take in more air, but it barely cuts it. My thoughts rush back and one word stands out as if it’s a neon-lighted sign.


I can’t breathe.


I call out Brian’s name between gasps. What if I die here? I see him turn around but my eyes are foggy. He shouts at me but the noise is muted. “Is it your oxygen? Did you refill at the last station? It should have been able to last you if you had - how could you have been so careless?” He grabs the collar of my jacket and shakes me. I see figures of the rest of my team come up behind him. Brian curses into the wind and screams at the figures. My eyes flutter closed. I remember now. I was writing in my journal at the last camp. A teammate had called me outside of my tent to help him with his gear. I had forgotten to refill it. The thoughts turn into a whirlpool and I can’t think straight. I’m slipping out of consciousness. My story is ending before I could even reach the climax. Before I could see the summit…


My face feels bare for a moment before it’s replaced by the familiar warmth of my oxygen mask. My mind is empty and dark until a tiny light flickers on in the distance. A thought. It tells me: breathe. I breathe. 

Bitterly cold air comes flowing into my throat and my lungs fill like balloons. My chest heaves as my heart hammers against my ribs and I gasp for more oxygen. It doesn’t stop short this time. I feel my body being enveloped in a hug, but all I can focus on is the bliss of breathing. My brain is full and bright again. A thought stands out to me once more.

Go touch the sky.


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