Season 2 Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
A simple walk through a fall, leaf-turning forest became an epic mountain ascent, during which my Dad outpaced me to the extent that I hitched a ride on his back during a few flat spots. We hiked through the most beautiful landscape I could remember seeing, mostly holding hands.
“I feel lifted, Hannah. My soul is lighter, and all problems are meaningless.”
“We have all of life’s opportunities and endless love in front of us, Dad.”
“Being with you makes me feel like this, baby. I have a permanent state of ecstasy flooding me.”
“I tingle when you touch me, Dad.”
We walked on for a few hundred meters, enjoying the views of a massive deciduous forest on the autumnal turn. Squirrels scurried around the forest floor, sprinting up trees as we passed them by, disrupting their foraging.
“I thought we might travel overseas during school vacations next year.”
“Where would we go?”
“Nepal and Thailand are on my list, but I’ve always fancied Namibia too. Where do you like?”
“I think Egypt to see the Pyramids, but we’d definitely get a slice of life in any of those places.”
Dad spun around with me on his back. We’d reached a clearing almost knee-deep in leaves, and he was unsteady, dizzy. He took the full weight of our fall, rolling over and over until we were coated in crispy, rust-colored leaves. My hair was knotted and full of forest floor debris, but I didn’t care because a warm, happy glow radiated through me.
“I’m happy, Hannah.”
“Me too, Dad.”