Shana bent over, placing her hands on her knees, trying desperately to catch her breath. She couldn’t give up. Although her muscles screamed at her to quit, she knew that wasn’t an option.

“No,” she said between panted breaths, “I can do this.”

She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Finally able to control her breathing, she walked over to a downed tree on the side of the trail and perched upon it, welcoming the reprieve it gave her. After a quick check for tics, she unscrewed the cap from her water bottle and sucked down the cool liquid. Ahh… The water was a balm to her parched lips and throat.

“You know,” Shana said after a moment, “I think I could stay here in these woods forever. They’re just so beautiful.”

“Your wish just might come true if you don’t start moving again.”

Shana gave her husband a dirty look but conceded to his point. “Fine,” she sighed. “Help me up, will you?”

Trevor smiled and walked in front of his wife, holding his hands out to her for support. Shana smiled back and grabbed the proffered hands, allowing Trevor to pull her to her feet.

“How much farther is it, do you think?”

“Well, according to my watch, and if the trail map is correct, we only have about a mile-and-a-half to go.”

“A mile-and-a-half?” Shana looked at the hill in front of her and groaned. “And it’s all up hill?”

“Um…yes. Don’t forget the hill we came down in the beginning of the hike. Now we have to go back up. It only makes sense.”

“To you, maybe,” Shana scoffed. Her husband laughed, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
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