Summer Mountain

By R.J. Byrd

*15 minute writing challenge*

Imagine you’re hiking on a mountain trail on a hot summer day. While it’s cooler on the mountain than anywhere else, you’re still dripping with sweat. The sun is particularly relentless. You’re glad you wore your wide-brim hat and brought along your extra large water bottle.

You take another break under a small tree whose branches hardly shade you, but it’s better than nothing. You take a long, satisfying drink from your bottle and check your watch. It won’t take too much longer before you can enjoy the air conditioning in your car.

You continue, eyes on the prize, when you hear something. It’s faint at first, but as you get closer, you can distinguish the sound: water. Moments later, you come across a mountain stream. It looks refreshing. After a few seconds of hesitation, you begin to chuck off your shoes and socks. You check the temperature with your toes. It’s perfect. Brisk and refreshing.

With no further hesitation, you step in with both feet. It’s bliss. You immediately feel cool relief spreading through your body. After a few minutes, you decide it’s not enough. You take off your hat and any electronics you’re carrying. You carefully lower yourself down until you’re sitting in the water, its just wide enough to fit you comfortably. The cold water is a shock but a welcomed one. It feels amazing. You lower your body down into the stream, your head reacting to the cold by sending strong tingles down the rest of your body.

Perfection. The water cools you down, and you can’t help the “ahh” sound that leaves your mouth. The flow of brisk water feels so good on your skin. All your senses feel heightened. The water is shallow enough that it doesn’t get in your ears. Perfection.

You lay in that stream for a while, feeling the cold flow of water all around you. Letting it cool your heated blood. It’s so relaxing you feel like you could float away down the stream…gently…merrily…what a dream…

After cooling down enough, you carefully get out, not bothering to dry off or squeeze water out of your clothes. The sun will dry you off soon enough, and you want to keep feeling cool as long as possible.

The rest of the walk down to your car is pleasant, with fewer stops in the shade for water. When you return to your car, your clothes are only damp, and you’re ready for the air conditioning.

Copyright 2024 R.J. Byrd All Rights Reserved.