Untouched

21. Sunday/ My last day with Zach is going too fast-day

The flat bare landscape has morphed into the exposed rocky hills I'd spotted in the distance earlier. The incline is making it harder for me to keep up the pace. Everything aches. My muscles are sluggish and straining to continue. My dry and scratchy throat makes me want water. I haven't brought anything.

I'm completely unprepared for this trip.

Zach brakes abruptly and jumps off his bike. I come to an unsteady stop and carefully place the bike on the ground.

'I can't feel my butt,' I mutter, stretching out my stiff legs.

'I'll happily massage it for you. I can finally show you how good I am with my hands.' Zach winks.

'You should see someone about the muscle in your eye, the spasms seem to be getting more frequent,' I retort, gazing up at the large mounds of earth towering around us which make me feel more insignificant than usual. Would this be deemed a hill or mountain? 'So what are we doing here?'

'We're heading to the top.' Zach points upwards.

I follow his finger, looking more closely at the mounds of earth around us. I can almost see where trees would have once covered the bare soil which has different sized rocks jutting out of it. Any previously existent paths are no longer visible, it's just dirt and rocks as far as the eye can see. Intimidating yet beautiful, it's unlike anything I've ever seen or could even imagine.

'You not up for it?' Zach says, wrongly interpreting my lack of response for anxiety and fear.

I shake my head and he looks disappointed, not understanding I'm disagreeing with his question. All I want is to climb upwards and see more. Heading straight up the steep incline, I don't bother to look for an actual path.

The exhilaration from earlier has returned suppressing my fatigue. A desperate urge to get to the top has me driving upwards which is further fuelled by the knowledge that once my parents realise I went into the woods I'll never have this opportunity again. I'll never get to see or experience anything different.

'Kit, if we wind around, it will be easier than going straight up,' Zach says from behind me as a cascade of rocks loudly tumbles below us.

'This way is quicker, but if you can't keep up you're welcome to go a different way. I'll meet you at the top.' I pause and turn round to face him.

His eyes narrow slightly but he grins. I'm starting to figure out how to push his buttons. He's unable to back down from a challenge.

'You lead. I'll be ready to catch you if you fall,' he says.

'I bet you would love that,' I mutter under my breath, continuing on upwards.

'Just as much as you,' Zach quips back loudly.

I remain silent not wanting to encourage him. Whatever is happening between us will end after today. There's no point in pretending otherwise.

The loose ground crumbles away beneath our hands and feet as we ascend higher. My forehead is damp with perspiration. My muscles are throbbing. My throat shredded from thirst.

Once I reach the top, I collapse into a hot sweaty panting heap.

Gathering my energy, I finally look up at the scene laid out in front of me and I'm awestruck. Grey clouds mottle the sky; shards of light piercing through the gaps highlight the wide expanse of barren land as far as the eye can see. Except, within the rippling brown tones there are tiny pockets of green, evidence of foliage. There are signs of the possibility of life returning.

The Techie settlement twinkles in the distance, a tiny speck among the wide expanse. The wall is indistinct against the surrounding arid ground. A breeze blows around me, clearing away any remnants of mental heaviness. Everything is in sharp, crystal, clarity. It's so beautiful it finally makes me understand the phrase, 'words can't do it justice'.