It Could Have Been

There was a magical mountain. At the top of the mountain there was a golden house. It could’ve been mine.

I laced up my boots and I got ready. I was ready to climb the mountain. I was ready to make it mine.

I started down the road slowly surely, I knew my destination.

I started at the base of the mountain. I stepped one foot in front of the other. I walked with intention. In my mind I imagined the golden house.

As I struggled to climb, sweat filled my brow and dripped down my body. I ripped off my shirt and threw it to the ground.

Each step I took began to hurt my body. I felt my breath become heavy like my eyelids. I pushed onward.

The only thing that kept me going was the vision of the golden house.

Soon, I would reach the golden house.

Night began to fall.

Darkness filled the mountain.

I looked down but I couldn’t see my feet. Still I kept on.

I reached the apex of the mountain and my hand clutched at the rocks. I could barely hold on.

Hold on.

I need to hold on.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

With all my strength I pushed up with my arms and pulled myself to peak. I knelt down on my knees and looked over the mountain. My body dripped with sweat. I saw a beautiful valley.

I struggled to breathe and then I remembered the golden house.

Quickly I turned around, and there it was.

I could barely see as the sweat dripped into my eyes. I brushed it away swiftly and pulled myself up from the ground.

I stumbled through the house. I knew what was inside or rather who. I began to smile just thinking about him. I stopped abruptly. I watched in horror as the golden house began to melt.

“No!” I screamed.

It was too late, it was melting. The hot sun beat down on the house as it melted, melted, melted away.

It was gone, along with him.

I sat at the top of the mountain not knowing what to do next.

I pulled myself up from the ground and brushed the dirt from my body. I looked at the valley below.

Promise.

It held promise.

Hope.

The golden house was gone. But down below, I felt him.

We would meet again.