Thin Ice

The Cut

"Hey, Harper you ready to climb soon?" Nathan asks.

"Yeah and a nice job at getting first place and perfect scores on your tricks," I respond.

"Thank you did well yesterday too," he reclaims.

"Look there going to start soon," he points to the tv in our little contest waiting room.

"Maci Moon back we are about to start the mountain climbing potion! So let's meet out climbers-"

They shine a stage light on the corner where they are standing.

"From Lewis and Clark Highschool is Connor Mason and Mary Lee! They both are juniors-"

They move the stage light to a different corner.

"From Birdseye Highschool is Cade Anderson and Wyatt Harris! Wyatt is a senior this year!"

They move the stage light to a different corner.

"From Four Range Highschool is Carson Collins and Kai Young! Carson is a senior this year-"

They move the stage light to our corner.

"From Helana Public Highschool is Harper Anne and Nathan Moore! They both are juniors this year!" she ends.

We run out waving. We have all our gear on so we look pretty goofy.

"Ezra here! We have eight ropes so when you hear your name got to the next rope available. Wyatt is on rope one. Carson on rope two. Kai on rope three. Cade on rope four. Connor on rope five. Mary on rope six. Harper on seven-"

I walk over. Ughhh why do I have to be by Mary? The one person I didn't want to be stuck by.

"And Nathan on rope eight. Okay everyone is here now hook up your harness with the ropes-" Click! There are many little clicks when everyone clips their harness on.

"Okay Ready! Set! CLIMB!" Ezra shouts.

Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot,  right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot,  right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot.

One-hour mark.

Nathan is in the lead and I'm right behind him. I wonder where everyone else is. No, don't get distracted. Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot.

Two-hour mark.

Nathan is still leading, but Mary is between us but she will run out of strength soon I can see her arms shaking. Also, someone is struggling behind me because I keep hearing feet slipping and cuss words. Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot.

Three-hour mark.

Halfway mark. Nathan is still leading and I'm following him. Mary got tired and had to stop for about twenty minutes. Kai slipped and he is eliminated. Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot.

Four-hour mark.

Nathan is leading. I'm behind him but Mary and Connor catching up to me. My arms are aching and it's getting harder to breathe. Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot.

Five-hour mark.

Nathan is almost done he'll finish in about twenty to thirty minutes. Mary is a little ahead of me and I'm ahead of Connor. But I heard them whispering a little bit ago and then Mary rushed up to catch up to do something. I wonder what? Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot.

5:36 p.m.

Nathan buzzed the buzzer to tell the judges he was finished. Right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot.

5:41 p.m.

"Harper!" Nathan screams. I look up and he is rushing down and also see a glimmer of sunlight shining off of something so I look around. Mary! Mary has a pocket knife and she is going to try to cut my rope! I brace myself against the rocks. Snip! I don't feel any pressure release. "Harper!" Nathan shouts. Nathan! My hand shoots out of instinct and he grasps my hand. I can feel him squeezing my hand for dear life.

"Harper you can't hold on to me forever," he states with tears in his eyes.

"I know but I will try," I tear up.

"Harper I have to tell you something before time runs out," he claims.

"What!" I say quickly.

"I like you," he claims.

"I do too," I respond.

"Finish the climb for me!"

I can feel him pulling himself up so I help. He leans in and I can feel his soft and tender lips on mine. He kissed me! Now I'm going to lose him. His grasp slips and he falls.

"Nathan!" I scream with tears streaming down my face. The wind is blowing my ponytail around in my face and behind me. My tears are frozen to my cheeks and my eyelashes have snowflakes that are blurring my vision.