MATT STURNIOLO IMAGINES

Falling For You, Snow and All

The air in Brighton, Utah, was crisp, the snow sparkling under the late afternoon sun as I strapped my snowboard to my boots, looking over at Matt. He looked nervous but excited, like a kid about to try something new. He'd never snowboarded before, and I was happy to be his guide for the day.

"You sure about this?" I asked with a playful grin, adjusting my gloves.

Matt gave me a shaky smile. "As ready as I'll ever be. Besides, you'll catch me if I fall, right?"

I rolled my eyes, but the smile never left my face. "Of course. But you might be falling a lot, so get ready."

We'd spent the whole day working on the basics. I'd been teaching him how to balance, turn, and, most importantly, stop without eating snow. He was getting better with every run, and now, after hours of practice, he looked more confident.

I led him down the beginner slope first, staying close to him, giving him tips and advice. It wasn't long before I could see the spark in his eyes—the moment when he realized how fun snowboarding could be.

"Not bad," I said as he successfully turned around a small bend, his board carving into the snow. "You're really getting the hang of it."

Matt grinned. "I think I might be a natural."

I glanced at him, noticing his usual nervous energy had shifted to a sense of adventure. "You still think you could do tricks? We could try a small jump."

"I'm down," he said, sounding more confident than before.

After a couple of attempts, Matt landed a small jump, and I couldn't help but feel proud. "Okay, that's impressive," I said, giving him a thumbs-up. "Now we need to work on landing more smoothly."

He laughed, shaking the snow from his shoulders. "I'm ready for whatever you throw at me."

As we sat at the top of the mountain, taking a breather and looking out at the view, Matt's eyes drifted to the towering peak of Tyson's Peak, visible off in the distance.

"Wouldn't it be crazy to snowboard down that?" he asked, almost wistfully.

I turned my head, my eyes following the mountain. Tyson's Peak was a black diamond run—extremely steep and difficult. Even for experienced snowboarders, it was a challenge. "You're crazy. That's way too much for a beginner, Matt."

He raised an eyebrow, mischief dancing in his eyes. "I think I could handle it."

I gave him a look of disbelief. "Matt, you've barely mastered the basics. You think you can take on Tyson's Peak?"

"Why not? If you teach me everything I need to know, I'll be fine," he said confidently, already making his way toward the lift.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should stop him. Matt had always been stubborn, and once he made up his mind, there was no changing it. But I couldn't let him go up there alone.

"You know what? Fine. But if you're serious, I'm not letting you go up without me," I said, following him toward the lift.

He turned to me, a grin spreading across his face. "You're a pro, right? You'll keep me safe."

I shook my head, already regretting the decision. "You're crazy. But fine, I'll be the one to save your butt when you wipe out."

The ride up the lift was a long one, and as the mountain got steeper, I couldn't help but feel a knot in my stomach. Tyson's Peak was no joke, and though Matt's confidence was contagious, I couldn't shake the worry creeping up in me.

"You sure about this?" I asked again, more softly this time.

Matt looked over at me, a determined glint in his eyes. "Yeah. I've got this. Don't worry."