a word as I absorbed the space and the atmosphere, but looked pleased that I could appreciate it. I walked out back to enjoy the fresh mountain air and felt invigorated by its beauty.
“This is unbelievable.”
“I knew you’d love it,” he said affectionately as he wrapped his arms around me. Every time I was in his presence, I felt safe and loved, and each time I was without it, I’d forget how amazing it made me feel. Just last night Jake had tried to hold me the same way, and while familiar with him, Parker’s arms felt stronger and right…so right. I leaned back into his chest, absorbed in how perfect this moment was.
“The trail starts over there, and it’s a six mile hike round trip. It may take us a few hours, so we should probably get going so we get back before dark.”
“Sounds great!” I exclaimed, excited to go, but secretly disappointed when he let go of me.
He gathered all we needed in his backpack and took the lead up the trail. At first the path was pretty easy, just basic forest bedding and a few stray branches, but about a mile into the hike, the elevation started to pick up and we were navigating through large boulders and steep cliffs. It was physically challenging, but I was never scared because Parker was at my side with each step, helping me through any obstacle that came my way.
It took us two hours to complete the three mile ascend, but the beauty that awaited us at the top was totally worth it. We stood on a stone ledge and overlooked the mountain range; I had never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. A few feet away was a large water fall that fell to at least one hundred feet below us. The sound of the rushing water made my pulse quicken as I thought about the power behind such a wonder of nature.
We found a safe place to rest and sat in silence, enjoying the view and the light mist that came up from the falls. I reflected on the journey I taken with Parker, how he found me so devastated and broken, yet now I sat at the top of a mountain ridge, with the world awaiting me. The tears hit me with such a force that I couldn’t hold them back and Parker quickly came to my aid, asking what was wrong.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I assured him, smiling through my tears. “I just feel free, like genuinely, fully free, and it’s a little overwhelming is all. A month ago, I didn’t know how I was going to get out of bed, and now…”
He wrapped his arms around me and held me while I cried. He was so good, so honest and perfect, that I knew in that moment I had to tell him. My heart started pounding as I searched for the words, my mind trying to convince me not to do it. But I wanted him to know, even if it meant he’d never look at me the same. Somehow, being up there gave me the strength to open up fully to him. I felt I owed it to him, to be completely honest about who I was, when he had given me so much.
“I have to tell you something,” I said tentatively, turning my body so that we were facing each other. He looked concerned, almost nervous as if I was about to drop a huge bomb on our relationship.
I put my hand on his cheek softly to reassure him and began telling him my story. I could feel my hands shaking, and every part of me screamed to stop for self-preservation. I almost changed my mind, but one look in his genuine eyes, and I knew it was time.
“Parker, there is a lot people don’t know about me. I’m kind of a closed book in a lot of ways. But you are always somehow finding ways to read me and break through the barriers I set up to keep people away. It scared me at first, but now I feel like I can tell you something I’ve only told one other person in my life. It’s something that I never share because I know that if I ever told the truth, people would look at me different, see me as the fraud that I am.” My voice caught as I said the last word, and Parker grabbed my hand, encouraging me to go