by Kelsey Opel

Created on: October 14, 2008

"Traveling Upward"

Breathing heavy while walking upwards.

Continuously moving forward

When you really just want to go back.

"Almost there," you say. "Don't give up!"

You stop for a break and lean on a tree

Letting the cold water chill your throat

And remind you of your intended target.

So much meaning in that place,

You cannot stop, you must continue.

Sweat dribbles down your back

And you fall tiredly to your feet.

"Keep moving," you encourage yourself.

Your hands are ripped and bruised from pushing yourself,

Feet dragging dully behind you.

There seems to be no end to this torturous path.

But then, you can see it: the top of the mountain.

You continue to pull yourself to your destination

As it looms closer and closer

You begin to count

One... Two... Three... You expect to be there by twenty.

Your hands burn, but you are unable to stop.

Seven... Eight... Nine...

Hope rises within.

Thirteen... Fourteen... Fifteen... Almost there

You clench your teeth in ambition.

Nineteen... Twenty...

One final push and you are at the top,

A big, wide smile spreads across your face.

The travel upward ends

The journey back down to happiness begins.

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