My fingers grip the gray rocks with yellow and reddish streaks that protrude from the vertical wall. My forehead sweats under the orange helmet, and some drops try to fall into my eyes, but the yellow band I am wearing prevents it. The humidity from the effort makes the red flannel stick to my skin. The sun is at its zenith and plays with the shadows on the nearby mountains.
I feel the muscles of my legs tense under my pants while, with my cat feet. I cling to the rocks, keeping my balance. My mind is in a dilemma: continue or give up. From where I stand, I can watch Manuel and his friends climbing higher. Now I think that I should not have accepted this challenge! I let myself be carried away by pride.
Since I was a child, I started climbing with my father, first on artificial walls and then in the mountains. This activity became more and more challenging. I conditioned my flexible and slender body with continuous exercises to withstand the climb.
A week ago, Manuel,a climber that I met through my father, approached me while I was having a coffee, where I usually go when I want to be in peace and quiet. It is a coffee shop with only two tables and a few large windows through which you can see the mountains. It is on a corner of a little-crowded street.
With his head held high and surrounded by his entourage of sycophants, his friends Ron and Juan, Manuel enters and smiles at me with his perfect white teeth. His blue eyes stare at me.
I think You think you're better than everyone else just because your father has a lot of money.
"Hi Gabriela, what about the challenge? Are you willing to climb the wall of the three colors? Do you think you can do it? You can say no; I'll understand", and when she laughs, his friends do too.
I look back at him with my black eyes that have darkened even more and my voice comes out of my mouth like a gunshot.
"I accept the challenge," I tell him as I feel the blood flowing and bringing heat to my whole head. "Tell me the day and time and I'll be there without fail."
And here I am, like a mountain goat, 200 meters from the rocky ground, attached only by a harness to the rock. A fall would be fatal.
The wind begins to blow and moves with force the branches of the bushes growing on the rock.
It might rain. I cling to the rock to mitigate the force of the wind. My hair in a ponytail sways. I can hear my heart beating. And I see the shadow of a bird flying over my head.
All that's left is for it to peck me or bathe me with its droppings.
I make an effort to climb a little higher, and the bird I now distinguish as a hawk with its brown wings outstretched flies very close to me. And it surprises me to stand on a branch of a thorn bush. With its yellow eyes, it looks at me, and a sound comes out of its curved beak.
"You have to keep climbing, you can reach the top."
What's going on? I hear him talking and it's to me. Of course I don't answer him, I must be hallucinating from the sun. But he keeps talking.
"¡Ching up! You are strong and free."
I reply, "I'm tired; my fingers hurt. For you, it's very easy; you have wings".
"Hahaha, you are afraid of falling".
"I'm not afraid; I told you, I'm just tired".
"You may feel afraid, but don't let it stop you." He looks over there, and with his wing, he points me to Manuel. "He's higher up than you. Imagine what's going to happen if he reaches the top first"
The hawk encourages me, and I make an effort. My right arm stretches out until my hand grips another ledge on the rock. It is sharp and hurts me, but I don't let go. I push myself with my feet to go higher with the other hand.
There is a space of about half a meter between the rock and the cliff, which allows me to stop and rest. I sit down and drink water from my bottle.
I look to my right, and only two people are still climbing: Manuel and Ron. What happened to Juan?
It has started to get dark, and some clouds have hidden the sun. The hawk, still on the branch, spreads its wings and flies away. I see it get lost in the sky, and I still have to climb about 20 meters.
A green lizard with yellow stripes has emerged from a crack in the wall. It lifts its head and looks at me with one of its eyes.
"Hi!", I say, testing to see if, as happened with the Hawk, I can also talk to it.
"Hi! You like climbing, I see you're doing well. I've been watching you."
"The truth is that at this point I don't know if I like doing it anymore. I'm not enjoying it."
"Why do you keep doing it then?", the lizard has moved its body and now sees me through the other eye.
"Over here there is a path wagging its tail; it points me in the direction. It is between these two rocks. The bushes have bloomed yellow, and further down, there is a stream of clear water. You can go; you'll like it."
"I can't do it; I have to get to the top." I stand up, just my harness, and feel my legs like leads preventing me from continuing.
"You are free to decide which way to go. Chin up Don't be ashamed of not reaching the top. Climbing higher is not always going to make you happier."
The lizard runs very fast; its legs barely touch the ground, and it passes over one of the rocks and disappears.
I see it and want to follow it and not worry about reaching the top anymore. I think about it for a few seconds.
My legs are no longer heavy. I walk close to the wall and move between the two rocks. When I come out, I see the bushes full of yellow flowers. I start down a stony path and hear the sound of water. I am close to the stream.
Thick drops of rain that have begun to fall sound like rain on my helmet. I take it off, bathe my head and wet my whole body. I reach the creek and dive into its waters.
The rain prevented Manuel and his friend Ron from winning the challenge. Juan was injured and could not continue. And I abandoned the climb, but that didn't matter to me. I chose the best path, the one I decided to take, and finally, only I knew it. Although I must admit that both the hawk and the lizard helped me, it is something I cannot tell; they will not believe me.
Versión en Español
Alcanzando la cima
Mis dedos se sujetan a las rocas grises con vetas amarillas y rojizas que sobresalen de la pared vertical. Mi frente suda bajo el casco de color naranja y algunas gotas tratan de caer en mis ojos, pero la banda de color amarillo que llevo puesta lo impide, la humedad por el esfuerzo hace que la franelilla roja se me pegué a la piel. El sol está en su zenit y juega con las sombras en las montañas cercanas.
Siento los músculos de mis piernas tensos bajo el pantalón mientras con mis "pies de gatos" me adhiero a la roca manteniendo el equilibrio. Mi mente está en un dilema: continuar o desistir. Desde donde estoy puedo mirar a Manuel y sus amigos escalando más arriba. ¡Ahora pienso que no debí haber aceptado este reto! Me dejé llevar por la soberbia.
Desde niña comencé a escalar con mi padre, primero en paredes artificiales y luego en las montañas. Esta actividad se convirtió en un desafío cada vez mayor. Mi cuerpo flexible y delgado lo acondicioné con ejercicios continuos para soportar el ascenso.
Hace una semana, Manuel, un escalador que conocí a través de mi padre, se me acerco mientras me tomaba un café donde acostumbro cuando quiero estar en tranquilidad. Es una cafetería de apenas dos mesas con unos ventanales por donde se ven las montañas. Está en una esquina de una calle poco concurrida.
Con la cabeza muy erguida y rodeado de su séquito de aduladores, sus amigos Ron y Juan, Manuel entra, me sonríe con sus dientes blancos y perfectos. Sus ojos azules me miran fijamente.
Pienso Te crees mejor que los demás solo porque tu padre tiene mucho dinero
—¡Hola Gabriela!, ¿qué me dices del reto? Estás dispuesta a subir la pared de los tres colores. ¿Te crees capaz? Puedes decir que no, lo comprenderé, —y cuando ríe sus amigos también lo hacen.
Le devuelvo la mirada con mis ojos negros que se han oscurecido aún más y de mi boca sale mi voz como un disparo.
—Acepto el reto, —dije mientras sentía la sangre que fluía y llevaba calor a toda mi cabeza. —Dime el día y la hora y allí estaré sin falta".
Y aquí estoy cuál cabra montes a 200 metros del suelo rocoso, sujeta solo por un arnés a la roca. Una caída sería fatal.
El viento comienza a soplar y mueve con fuerza las ramas de los arbustos que crecen en la roca.
Puede ser que llueva. Me pego a la roca para mitigar la fuerza del viento. Mi cabello recogido en una cola se balancea. Puedo escuchar los latidos de mi corazón. Y veo la sombra de un ave que vuela sobre mi cabeza.
Lo que falta es que me picotee o que me bañe con su excremento.
Hago un esfuerzo por subir un poco más y el ave que ahora distingo como un halcón con sus alas marrones extendidas vuela muy cerca de mí. Y me sorprende al pararse sobre una rama de un arbusto espinoso. Con sus ojos amarillos me mira y un sonido sale de su pico curvo.
—Tienes que seguir subiendo, tú puedes alcanzar la cima.
¿Qué está pasando? Lo escucho hablar y es conmigo. Por supuesto no le respondo, debo estar alucinando por el sol, pero él sigue hablando.
—¡Ánimo! Eres fuerte y libre"
Le respondo —Estoy cansada, me duelen los dedos. Para ti es muy fácil, tienes alas.
—Ja, ja, ja, tienes miedo de caer.
—No tengo miedo, ya te dije, solo estoy cansada.
—Puedes sentir miedo, pero no dejes que te detenga. Mira allá y con el ala me señala a Manuel. Está más arriba que tú. Imagina lo que va a pasar si alcanza primero la cima.
El halcón me da ánimo y hago un esfuerzo, mi brazo derecho se extienden hasta que mi mano se sujeta a otro saliente en la roca, es puntiagudo y me lastima, pero no lo suelto, me impulso con los pies para ir más arriba con la otra mano. Allí hay un espacio como de medio metro entre la roca y el precipicio, que me permite detenerme a descansar. Me siento y tomo agua de mi botella.
Miro a mi derecha y solo dos personas continúan escalando Manuel y Ron. ¿Qué habrá pasado con Juan?
Ha comenzado a oscurecer, algunas nubes han ocultado al sol. El halcón que sigue en la rama, extiende sus alas y remonta el vuelo. Lo veo perderse en el cielo y a mí aún me falta escalar aproximadamente 20 metros.
Un lagarto de color verde con franjas amarillas ha salido de una grieta de la roca. Levanta su cabeza y me mira con uno de sus ojos.
—¡Hola!, —le digo, probando a ver si como ocurrió con el Halcón, también puedo hablar con ella.
—¡Hola! Te gusta escalar, veo que lo haces bien. Te he estado observando".
—La verdad es que en este momento ya no sé si me gusta hacerlo. No lo estoy disfrutando.
—¿Por qué entonces sigues haciéndolo?", —el lagarto ha movido su cuerpo y ahora me ve por el otro ojo.
—Por aquí hay un camino y moviendo su cola me indica la dirección. Está entre esas dos rocas. Los arbustos han florecido de amarillo y más abajo hay un riachuelo de aguas claras. Puedes ir, te va a gustar.
—No puedo hacerlo, tengo que llegar a la cima. —Me levanto y me ajusto el arnés y siento mis piernas como plomos que me impiden continuar.
—¡Ánimo! Eres libre de decidir cuál camino seguir. No sientas vergüenza por no alcanzar la cima. No siempre subir más alto te va a hacer más feliz.
La lagartija corre muy rápido, sus patas casi no tocan el suelo y pasa sobre una de las rocas y desaparece.
La veo y deseo seguirla y no preocuparme más por alcanzar la cima. Lo pienso unos segundos.
Mis piernas ya no están pesadas. Camino pegada a la pared y me muevo entre las dos rocas. Cuando salgo veo los arbustos llenos de flores amarillas, comienzo a bajar por un sendero pedregoso y escucho el sonido del agua. Estoy cerca del riachuelo.
Gruesas gotas de la lluvia que ha comenzado a caer suenan en mi casco, me lo quito y bañan mi cabeza y mojan todo mi cuerpo. Llego al riachuelo y me sumerjo en sus aguas.
La lluvia impidió que Manuel y su amigo Ron ganaran el reto. Juan se lesionó y no pudo continuar. Y yo abandoné el ascenso... pero eso no me importó. Escogí el mejor camino, el que yo decidí tomar y finalmente solo yo lo supe, aunque debo reconocer que tanto el halcón como la lagartija me ayudaron, pero es algo que no puedo contar... no me van a creer.
You reminded us that we don't always have to win and that not all winnings makes us happy. We just need to follow our heart. The lizard and the bird helped Gabriela realized this.
Thank you very much @sabrinah.
I think the other animal species give us examples of this learning. Winning by pleasing others is not winning.
A hug 🌹
Wow, reading about her climbing adventure had me holding my breath. I could almost feel the tension and excitement as you described each moment up on that wall.
It's so cool how nature seemed to guide her towards a different path, one that led her to a peaceful stream and a refreshing swim.
Sometimes the journey we didn't plan for turns out to be the most rewarding. I loved this!!!
Hi @iskawrites.
I loved reading your comment especially the last sentence.
Thank you and happy day 🌻
A beautiful story, the lizard and the falcon gave that touch of fantasy to your narrative. Very nice how you narrated each scene and he made me transport myself to that mountain.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Monday.
Thank you very much @rinconpoetico7. I'm very glad you liked it.
Both made you see the different paths you could take.
Greetings and blessings.
It is a beautiful story, one with a surprising conclusion. We are conditioned to believe one must strive, no matter what. One must compete and reach the top. But rarely are we advised to stop and consider where we are going and why. Are we on a journey defined by others, or have we chosen to take the path we follow?
It seems the hawk is right, at first. Climb! Then, that most improbable of sages, a lizard, offers a more enlightened view. As the hawk said, "You are free". Freedom means choosing.
The story reads less well in English than in Spanish. In Spanish, it is almost poetic.
Thank you for sharing this story with us, @popurri.
Hi @theinkwell.
I'm glad you found the story beautiful.
Spanish is my native language and the translation to English I know I have to improve it because I do it with a translator and it is somewhat mechanical.
Greetings and always grateful.
I liked the naturality this story takes one to live what the MC lives. Felt exposed to all her feelings.
Thank you very much @gabmr. Glad you liked it.
Greetings and happy night
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Thank you so much @hivebuzz
Greetings and happy night
That's great @popurri! We're excited to see your accomplishments on Hive! We'll continue to support you to achieve your next goals!
Cowboy wisdom says: "Sometimes the best climb is the one you choose to descend from." Keep riding your journey, partner.
Thank you very much @cowboy-curator for your comment. I liked it very much. It's like that, life is ups and downs.
A hug and happy night ✨
Keep that fire in your heart burnin' bright, darlin'. Embrace those blessings tight and ride through the trail of life with hope as your faithful steed. Happy trails and sweet dreams under that same starry sky. 🌟🤠
🌹💖
Ain't no trail too tough for a cowboy with a heart full of hope. Saddle up, partner.
Me encanta tu mensaje de animo para comenzar un nuevo dia.
Feliz y bendecido día ⚘