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“We’re not climbing up the side of a mountain,” Nicholas replied, coolly. “Although, we are getting pretty high up, huh?”
“That’s an understatement.” I took a moment to look around my surroundings, which also served as the perfect excuse to take a few extra breaths before getting back to the journey. The forest was drop-dead gorgeous, with trees that looked like they went on forever, past the sky and beyond. It made me wonder how old they were, how much they’d seen over hundreds of years of life. It was slightly ominous in a way, being in the middle of an impossibly old forest, each root about as young as me, a blip on the radar of existence…
But it was incredible, too.
Up ahead there was a whole crowd of trees, densely forested, like they were holding a sacred meeting of their branches. I was tired yet eager to reach them, curious about whether or not they’d share anything they’d learned since they’d been planted, the kind of wisdom that comes with being in the same place for an inconceivable amount of time.
“Come on. We’re getting close,” Nicholas said, up ahead of me. Of course, he didn’t offer any additional information, like where exactly we were getting close to. Still, I followed behind him, knowing that he’d never lead us astray. A few moments later and the trail narrowed significantly, a little past the trees I’d wanted to visit. There was a clear drop-off on the side of it, one that would’ve meant several broken bones, if not a broken neck, too?—
Shit.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Everything felt like it was happening in slow motion, my foot slipping against the trail, my hands grasping at nothing as my body spiraled toward the ground. I could already see myself at the bottom of the trail, body splayed out, broken arms in different directions, my legs twisted and snapped. It was a gruesome image but still, one that was preferable to another possibility, one where I fell in the exact wrong way, one where my life was cut short by a simple mistake in my footing on a rather lovely day.
Suddenly, I felt strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into place on the trail.
“You’re okay. I’ve got you,” Nicholas murmured. “I’ve always got you, Parker.”
“Sorry for almost dying,” I apologized, as I settled my feet back on the ground. I shook my head before I went on. “See? This is why I didn’t want to climb up the side of a mountain. I figured something like this was going to happen.”
“Again, we’re not climbing up the side of a mountain,” he replied. “And trust me. Once you see where we’re going, it’ll all be worth it.”
Nicholas offered his hand for me to hold, and I quickly folded it into my own. We continued like that until we reached a secluded area, even the trees themselves seeming to scatter to give this place its own room. A few more steps and I realized that it really wasn’t so secluded after all, a great big tree standing in the center of it, one that looked even older than any of the trees I’d spotted earlier on the trail.
“Parker, meet one of the oldest trees in the United States,” Nicholas started, as he came to a stop, his hand still holding mine tight. “What do you think?”
“I think she’s beautiful,” I whispered, in complete and utter awe. I moved away from Nicholas and took a few steps closer to the tree itself, close enough to run my fingers across its huge trunk. “How long do you think she’s been?—”
“No one knows for sure, but we know she was here when Indigenous tribes still populated the area,” he answered. “She’s seen settlers come and go, too. Can you even imagine it? Having that kind of vantage point into so much history.”
“It’s amazing,” I whispered again, feeling like I was suddenly standing in a sacred space, a place that could’ve only been accessed through devout fasting and even more devout prayer.
Just then, I heard something rustling behind me. I turned to see Nicholas opening his mysterious backpack from the car ride, pulling out a long rope, followed by what looked like a blindfold, and lastly, an extremely comfortable blanket.
“Uh, what’s going on over there?” I chuckled as I asked the question. “I can’t tell if you’re about to try and climb this tree or if you’re about to try and climb me.”
“The latter.” Nicholas chucked, too. “That is, if you’re up for it?”
“Here? Right in front of the tree?”
“You don’t want to?”
“No, I do.” I shook my head. “It’s just… I don’t know. This tree has seen some pretty important stuff?—”
“And you don’t think this is important?”
“I mean, in the grand scheme of sacred things?—”
“You don’t think this is sacred?” Nicholas asked, his voice low. “Do I not worship your body each time I’m with you, Parker Evans?”
A pleasurable chill went through me in response, my words failing me in the moment. I didn’t know what else to say in response, Nicholas effectively shutting me up with his arguments.
“Okay.” I eventually found something to say, as I made my way back over to him and the backpack.
“Okay?”
“I’ll let you worship me, Nicholas Cooper.” I smirked before offering him a sweet kiss, my lips pressing against his.