Everest

With sunlight drenching his smile he begins to cry. Waves roll down his cheeks and prayer flags wave in harmony with his emotions – tragically grounded, gaudy signs of ownership, hopeful and symbolic of the heavenly, the holy and hurt. The wind bitterly whips his face reminding him time is precious, pain will build upon itself, and he is more exposed now than ever before. With numb fingers he pulls out a camera and tries to freeze the moment, but the coldness curtly stops him before he is satisfied with his efforts. He sighs as he replaces the camera in his pack. Breaking off his icicle tears he looks around once more – the zenith of his quest and there’s a long way yet. The deadly descent back to the reality he wished to escape still waits for him. With storms on the horizon, he places one foot on the ridge leading away from heaven while praying he will someday return.