I remember being at the bottom. Looking up at your giant peaks thinking about how I finally made it to the last part of my journey. I had come so far. I had come to this point and there was no turning back.

But then I started to climb. I steadied my heavy back pack on my shoulders and grabbed a hold of your sturdy sides. I found places for my feet and hands to fit and started towards the top.

You won’t stop me giant mountain. I can make it. But then came the moment my hand slipped while I was half way up.

And I fell.

I remember the moment I hit rock bottom.

The moment I failed the climb. The moment I fell off your rocky sides and hit the ground.

I had to start all over from the beginning.

I remember the feeling. My body crumbling against the floor in a giant heap, feeling as if there was no way to get back up.

I had given up. I couldn’t go any further.

I laid there in silence as I released a sob from my chest. My clothes were torn and tattered. My hair dirty and matted against my face.

It was all your fault. You made me fall. You were the one who gave me such high hopes. You made me think I could make it too the top!

IT WAS YOU I HATED! YOU GIANT MOUNTAIN!

Then I remember feeling the cool summer breeze blow past me. I remember feeling the sun shine down on my face.

I looked up at you, giant mountain,  and felt a since of hope.

I felt my legs regain their strength and a voice whisper, “Keep going, for I am with you..”

I pushed my self-up and sat looking at you. You mocked me, yet you called me.

I had to climb. I had to finish what I had started.

I carefully stood to my feet. For some reason the weight I once carried on my shoulders was lighter.

The heavy backpack I once carried was gone. Everything I once carried, all the things of my past was gone, all the secrets I was once hiding in the darkness now shining in the light, but I wasn’t ashamed.

I took a deep breath and started to climb.

It went faster than I thought. It felt as if I had flown to the top. I made it to your peaks so quickly.

Oh mountain, You are not as big as I thought you were. Now that I’m standing on top of you’re rocky peaks I can see where I came from. I can see the troubled waters that I once trudged through. I can see the dark valley I ran through to get to the light on the other side.

Letting go of all the heavy burdens I tried to carry made all the difference.

To all the mountains I have climbed before, you did not stop me from being who I am today. You have only made me realize that I had to climb you to get where I needed to be.

The journey was hard, trechourous, I almost didn’t make it through, but now that I am at the top….

I don’t have to look back…

There’s only going forward from here.