The last climb

We continue with the publication of the micro-stories of the first edition of the competition: High Altitude Storieswe let you enjoy "La última escalada", by Pedro del Barrio Ayuso.

The last climb

-by Pedro del Barrio Ayuso-

He dug his fingers into the crevice and felt the cold granite. He spread his legs, glued his body to the rock and took the first step, then hands and feet followed one after the other looking for support until he saw his tiny rucksack.

For a moment he contemplated nature. Now he felt lighter than ever, unshackled, untethered, unhelmeted, unaccompanied.

He knew that way very well; every prey was where he thought it would be. He closed his eyes, activated other senses: he smelled the stone and the hanging bushes, listened to the wind and the birds.

At the end of the track, on his last hold, with his eyes still closed, his foot slipped and his body separated from the rock. For a second he felt the flight, but then his consciousness ceased.

On the bedside, his son, sobbing, closed his eyes: "Dad is no longer with us".