#ad
,uhuru

,ell5 & ,i 7 m>ri$ at ?irte5 ?\s& feet on ! ,%ira ,plat1u on ,m.t
,kilimanj>o4 ,! plat1u 0 a huge expanse ( rock & small m.ta9 %rubs ) 3/ant
w9d & p5etrat+ sun4 ,ell5 describ$ look+ d[n 96! moi/ deep gre5 (! montane
=e/s & 2y 6! ri* r$ soil (! l[l&s4

,x _h tak5 u ?ree "ds ( hik+ 6get 6? po9t4 ,! f/ "d 0 a n>r[ trail "? ! hi<
ra9 =e/ ov] slipp]y expos$ roots4 ,rosewood trees rose sixty feet & at !
top1 _! canopy blocks ! sun4 ,grt /r&s ( moss dangl+ f bran*es bru%$ ag/ my
face1 & ,i cd he> monkeys scree*+ abv 9 ! d5se veget,n4 ,! second "d we _h
-e \ (! =e/ & 96groves ( giant h1? trees ) _! small l1ves & t9y delicate
fl[]s4 ,elephants1 leop>ds1 bu6alo1 & el&1 an animal l a small de]1 _h all
be5 se5 9 ^! l[] slopes4 ,!n we pass$ "? h1!r1 only *e/ hi<4 ,! air1 once
h1vy 9 ! d5se =e/1 turn$ cool & mi/y4 ,f9,y x all gave way 6a rocky mora9e
) an o3a.nal %rub & clu/]s ( abnorm,y l>ge alp9e plants4 ,buzz>ds & rav5s
cd 2 he>d ov]h1d & ,daniel1 \r guide1 f.d ! sun-wa%$ skeleton ( an el& j (f
\r trail4 ,! el& _h probably di$ 9 a su45 /orm1 :ile se>*+ = mosslike li*5
f.d on ! rocks4 ,l>ge mammals c't live at ? altitude ( alm fifte5 ?\s&
feet1 al? a froz5 leop>d c>cass 0 /rangely f.d ne> ! summit 9 #aibf4 ,i
lik$ ! op5;s (! mora9e4 ,i felt l ,i cd he> ! mass (! m.ta9 &! sky >.d x1 &
"sh[ ,i 0 "p ( x all1 if only 9 a t9y way4

,we *ose 6take ! m.ta9e]s' r\te up ,kili1 ref]r$ 60! locals z ! ,:isky
,r\te1 v]sus ! easi] side (! m.ta91 ref]r$ 6z ! ,coca-,cola ,r\te4 ,i knew
summit "d wd 2 l;g & /eep1 ) "s f\r? class scrambl+4 ,ev5 ) t1 ,i 0 a#
63v9ce ,ell5 & my dad 6-e al;g4 ,my dad 0 a gd a?lete1 & ,i knew he wd rise
6! o3a.n4 ,two ye>s e>li]1 :5 my family _h met me on ! glaci] at base camp
af my ,mc,k9ley climb1 ,i rememb] my "f putt+ 8 h& on my %\ld] & say+1
8,:at an a3ompli%;t4 ,w[6 ,:at an a3ompli%;t10 &! f>-away s.d 6his voice
made me ?9k t if he _h be5 a few ye>s "y]1 he wd h wi%$ 6h be5 "! ) u4 ,i
didn't =get t4 ,kilimanj>o's reput,n 0 a lot mild] ?an ,mc,k9ley's2 x wd
take six "ds 9/1d ( tw5ty-"o1 & we cd h mo/ ( \r ge> c>ri$ 0port]s1 b x 0 /
a big m.ta91 ris+ #ai1cdj feet \ (! ,african pla9s4 ,6climb x wd 2 a major
a3ompli%;t = any"o4

,ell5's r1sons 7 a ll di6]5t4 ,%e loves new exp]i;es1 loves meet+ new p1 b
,i don't ?9k y cd say ,ell5 loves ! m.ta9s4 ,"s"ts ,i feel t %e climb$ ) me
m \ ( h] love = me ?an h] love ( !m4 ,b :5 %e 0 3v9c$ t "s physical ef=t 0
wor? ! grt sacrifice1 %e cd pu% h]f 6an amaz+ level4

,e>li] 9 ! spr+1 we climb$ ,m.t ,ra9i] tgr4 ,on summit "d1 we />t$ =! top
at two a4m4 ,x 0 v cold4 ,we 7 surr.d$ 0ice & d>k;s2 void ( any h1t4 ,we _h
6jump ov] crevasses t op5$ l black gap+ m\?s4 ,a few h\rs up1 ,i / _hn't
gott5 w>m4 ,ea* "t we /opp$1 ,i 2gan 6%iv]1 n a gd sign s f> f ! w>m? (a
t5t4 ,b ,ell5 seem$ ,,ok4 ,i kept expect+ h] 6say1 8,i've _h 5\<4 ,let's g
d[n n[10 b ea* "t ,i ask$ h] h[ %e 0 do+1 %e repli$1 8,,ok4 ,h[ >e y do+80
,at : ! te/o/]"o 9 me repli$1 8,,ok40 ,i _h a ll spee* prep>$ = :5 %e gave
up4 ,i'd massage h] %\ld]s & say1 8,don't worry4 ,we'll d x next ye>4 ,x
wasn't yr fault40 ,b ,ell5 _h 3t9u$ 6move up ! slope sl[ly1 ) 3c5trat$ ef=t
z if "ey?+ 9side h] 0 focus+ on ea* subsequ5t /ep4 ,s1 pride _h kept me
go+1 n ! be/ motivator on a m.ta91 b x =c$ my body =w>d & 6! top ) ,ell54

,"s"ts1 ?\<1 %e j cdn't see ! import.e ( x all4 ,-+ d[n f ! summit (
,ra9i]1 af \r tw5tie? h\r ( 3/ant move;t1 \r guide ,craig _h told u t !
p>k+ lot 0 no m ?an a half an h\r away4 ,ell5 0 la7+ f> 2h1 s ,i fell back
6see :at 0 wr;g4 ,:5 only ,i 0 9 cle> e>%ot1 %e rem>k$ emphatic,y1 8,climb+
is an 5d.s ni<tm>e40 ,h] %ort b cle>ly /at$ -;t>y 0 m1nt j = me4 ,i 2gan
lau<+ uncontrollably1 )! lau<t] t -es af yr s5sitiv;y is /ripp$ away
0exhaus;n4 ,i ?9k %e lau<$ too b only =a second4 ,! j\rney did seem 5d.s =
,ell54 ,%e 0 pr\d ( h] summit ( ,m.t ,ra9i]1 b x wasn't "s?+ t %e'd ne$$4
,ell5 climb$ ,ra9i] 6be ) me & 65joy my -pany :ile *all5g+ h]f physic,y4 ,?
is "ply :y ,i love h]4 8,p won't love y = :at y d1 b = :o y >e &=! k9d;s
9side y10 %e sd1 & ,i knew ? 0 a message ,i ne$$ 6he>4

,s n[ ,ell5 & ,i /ood 9 ! cold sun (! ,%ira ,plat1u 9 front ( ,daniel r1d+
! ,"l's ,pray] 9 ,swahili4 ,\r fell[ climb]s _h built an alt> \ ( rocks &
collect$ m.ta9 fl[]s t we held 9 a b\quet4 ,ell5 _h look$ at h] gru2y
climb+ fleece & grimac$4 8,? won't d40 ,!n %e notic$ ! orange1 purple1 &
gre5 ,tanzanian clo? t we _h be5 us+ z a ta# cov]4 ,%e wrapp$ x >.d h] l an
,9dian s>i &1 al? ,i cdn't see h]1 9 my he>t %e made ! mo/ b1uti;l bride 9
! _w4 ,daniel took a piece ( clo? & wrapp$ \r wri/s tgr 9 x4 8,:at ,god has
br"\ tgr10 he sd /r;gly1 8no man c sep>ate40 ,& ,i felt 8 ^ws1 \r wri/s b.d
ti<tly z "o4 ,we _h n br"\ \r r+s on ! m.ta9 9 fe> ( los+ !m1 s ,baltaz>
took two blades ( tussock grass & ti$ !m >.d \r f+]s4 ,i rep1t$ ,daniel's
^ws1 _! p[] transc5d+ 8 brok5 ,5gli%4 8,i w love ,ell5 z my wife dur+
sick;s & h1l? & only d1? c sep>ate u4 ,? ,i w d ac 6! abil;y ( ,god4 ,? r+
w 2 ! sign ( my love & tru/;l;s 6y "?\t life40 ,af ,ell5 recit$ h] v[s1 %e
lock$ h] >m 9 m9e & we walk$ acr ! plat1u ) frs1 guides1 & port]s mak+ a
pa? = u4 ,z we pass$ "? ! gauntlet1 ! ,tanzanians sang a tradi;nal w$d+ s;g
9 ,swahili4 ,ellie & ,i cdn't "u/& a ^w1 except = \r "ns plu7$ 9 at v>i\s
po9ts4

,afws we ask$ ,daniel 6translate ! s;g4 ,he ?"\ =a l;g "t & !n 2gan
c>e;lly1 9 8 sl[ ,5gli%1 8,]ik is a gd man4 ,ell5 saw hm & ,ell5 lov$ hm4
,ell5 is a gd man4 ,]ik saw hm & ,]ik lov$ hm40 ,\r frs1 ga!r+ >.d1 lau<$
he>tily1 b a few misplac$ pron\ns cdn't take away f ! /r5g? & hope (!
music4 ,)! celebr,n 9 full sw+1 ,i cdn't seem 6all[ myf 6fl[ ) x -pletely4
,i felt a vague l;g+ hov]+ on ! p]iph]y1 z if all ! music & s++1 ! rem>ka#
m.ta9 sett+1 & ev5 ! magnitude ( ,ell5's love cd n h1l a t9y angry w.d 9 my
s\l4 ,my "m _h des]v$ 6live1 6wit;s ^! l&m>k mo;ts 9 h] son's life1 6"k t
%e _h d"o a gd job & t ,i 0 happy4 ,i cdn't 5vi.n1 h["e1 my "m's delicate
human body climb+ ,kilimanj>o's /eep slopes 6/& 9 ? place1 s ,i tri$
6settle on ! idea ( h] lau<+ _s hid+ 2h a ne>by rock or 9 ! b\quet ( fl[]s4

,! c]emony 5d$ )a fr ( my dad's giv+ ,ellie & ,i "s m>ital advice4 ,he us$
! metaphor (a :eel4 8,:at if ! spokes (a :eel >e n ev5 l5g?s80 he ask$4
8,ea* (! spokes (! :eel repres5ts facets ( yr lives4 ,"!'s ! 9tellectual1 !
emo;nal1 ! social1 &! physical4 ,!y all m/ /ay 9 bal.e or ! :eel w sp9 \ (
3trol40 ,i don't "k h[ he _h r1d my life s a3urately4 ,i cd see my climb+
goals s cle>ly 9 front ( me1 b "s"ts m important "ps ( my life hov]$
fuzzily on ! p]iph]y4 ,i didn't want my life ) ,ell5 6be fuzzy2 ,i want$ x
6%9e b"r] ?an any?+ else ,i _h "e "kn4 ,i rememb] feel+ ,ell5's wri/ wrapp$
ag/ m9e & x felt l we 7 "o p]son 9/1d ( two4 ,i hope "s ( ,ell5's c5t]$;s
fl[$ 96me1 fus+ 96me ! deep k t "! 0 m 6life ?an j r1*+ summits4

,two "ds lat]1 ,ell5 & ,i 5joy$ \r h"oymoon1 a tw5ty-f\r-h\r summit "d4 ,we
left ,lava ,t[] at "o a4m4 af a nutriti\s br1kfa/ ( dri$ ,5gli% biscuits &
ca6e9at$ tea4 ,on previ\s "ds1 we _h ! op;n ( hav+ port]s c>ry \r ge>1 b ,i
_h *os5 6c>ry my [n1 6/ay self-su6ici5t4 ,on ? "d1 ?\<1 2c we 7 attempt+
6summit f ! ,ma*ame side & !n desc5d on ! ,m>angu r\te1 ,i _h acquiesc$ &
let ! port]s trav]se ) my ge>1 al;g ) "ey"o else's1 f \r presummit camp 6a
camp on ! o!r side at ab twelve ?\s& feet4 ,climb+ #e1jjj feet 6! summit1 f
#ad1ejj feet1 wd 2 *all5ge 5 )\t a fifty-p.d pack on my back4 ,9/1d1 ,i
c>ri$ normal summit f>e &a ll extra3 a d[n jacket1 a -plete d[n suit 9 case
( an em]g5cy1 extra lay]s ( fleece1 *ocolate1 a c ( tuna1 a ,yoo-,hoo 6%>e
) ,ell5 at ! top1 f\r wat] bottles = ,ellie & me1 a rope1 & sunscre54 ,my
pack felt li<t -p>$ 6o!r "ds1 & ,i />t$ /r;gly1 *ipp+ away at ! elev,n4 ,a
few ?\s& feet hi<]1 altitude 0 />t+ 6get ! be/ ( me4 ,on ,kilimanj>o1 \r
a3limatiz,n "t 0 only five "ds1 v]sus n9ete5 on ,d5ali4 8,m* oxyg5 on !
summit1 2c ( _m trees 2l ! m.ta910 ,daniel assur$ u4 ,maybe = hm1 ,i ?"\4
,al on ,d5ali1 ,i 0 a# 6keep a 3si/5t pace 0kick+ my [n /eps 96! sn[y
slope2 ,kilimanj>o 0 mo/ly loose rock & scree ) pat*es ( ice hid+ abv
?\s&-foot drops4 ,i f.d x h>d 6get 96a rhy?m z we %immi$ "? n>r[ loose
gullies1 >.d b\ld]s1 & up expos$ rock faces4

,9 ! predawn d>k;s1 :ile scrambl+ up a /eep rock ramp1 "o ( \r climb]s abv
knock$ a l>ge b\ld] loose4 ,! d>k;s level$ ! play+ field1 made x ! same =
all1 & we lung$ blly 9 di6]5t direc;ns4 ,i ?rew myf 6! left z ,i e/imat$ !
trajectory f ! s.d4 ,9 ano!r second ,i he>d ! b\ld] b\nce pa/ a few feet 6!
"r & away f ! gr\p1 !n d[n a ?\s& feet 2l4 ,lucky1 ,i ?"\4

,>.d five a4m4 ,i he>d a yell f f> abv4 ,x 0 ,greg1 a t1m memb]1 ^: gr\p _h
be5 climb+ at a fa/] pace ?an ,ell51 my dad1 & me4 8,my altimet] r1ds
sev5te5 ?\s& feet10 he %\t$1 & ,i felt my attitude plummet4 ,greg1 at
sev5te5 ?\s& feet1 0 / f> abv me1 b t 0 / f> 2l ! summit4 ,! ni<t 0 cold]
?an ,i _h expect$4 ,ironic,y1 on a m.ta91 ! mo;ts 2f sunrise >e 0f> !
colde/ (! ni<t1 s ,i 0 grate;l =! equatorial sun t peek$ ov] ! m.ta9 >.d
sev5 a4m4 ,i ask$ ,ellie h[ %e 0 do+4 8,f9e10 %e sd impati5tly4 8,let's j
get "!40 ,i cd he> ! fru/r,n 9 h] voice4

,z ,i got hi<]1 ,i 2gan 6feel l ,i 0 9 a tr.e4 ,my muscles & ?"\s 7 mov+ "?
syrup4 ,i cd notice a 4t9ct delay 2t my m9d -m&+ an ac;n & my body foll[+ !
ord]4 ,i lo/ track ( ,ell5 & my dad climb+ "r 2h me & focus$ on mov+ my
slu7i% body =w>d & upw>d4 ,baltaz> 3t9u$ 6rep1t1 8,close n[1 v close40

8,h[ l;g is close80 ,i ask$4

8,"o h\r10 he repli$4

,an h\r wd g 0& "s"o wd ask ag1 8,h[ f>80

8,"o h\r10 he'd say4

,i 2gan 6wond] if ,african guides1 hav+ n gr[n up ) wat*es /rapp$ 6_! wri/s
l ,we/]n]s1 _h n"e develop$ an a3urate s5se ( "t4 ,h[ d y judge "o h\r8 ,i
ask$ myf1 if y've n"e wat*$ x pass8 ,i 3t9u$ 6trudge up ! /eep slipp]y
scree4 ,i _h le>n$ well on o!r climbs t y g until y get "!4 ,:5 guides say
"o h\r1 ,i simply multiply _! "t 0two1 s my bra9 is pl1santly surpris$ if
we r1* \r de/9,n 9 "o h\r &a half1 & n cru%$ if we >rive 9 two &a half4

,i scurri$ up "? a l;g twi/+ gully & !n felt ! m.ta9 op5 up 9 front ( me4
,x felt wide & flat1 imm5se op5;s t ,i _h r>ely exp]i;ed4 ,i /epp$ up onto
! flat;s4 ,baltaz> t\*$ my >m4 8,welcome 6! top ( ,africa10 he sd s(tly4
,we 7 on ! giant cald]a1 ! m\? ( an ext9ct volcano4 ,! t]ra9 / sunk 9w>d1
cr1t+ ! %ape (a massive %all[ b[l4 ,i felt a t+le ( el,n "? my body1 b !n
exhaus;n ov]rode x & ,i sat d[n ag/ a pile ( rocks4 ,\ (! w9d1 ! w>m? 0
b1uti;l4 ,i cd feel ! sunli<t h1t+ my face "? ! *ill (! air4 ,x 0 s
pl1sant1 ,i ev5 no4$ (f =a few m9utes4 ,:5 ,i woke up1 ,i =c$ myf 6eat a
*ocolate b>1 b ) ea* swall[1 my body 0 try+ 6reject x4

,only "o m ob/acle lay 2t ! summit & \r gr\p3 ! "o-?\s&-foot scree slope
call$ ,uhuru ,p1k4 ,x 0 ano!r small] p1k p]*$ atop ! "o we _h j climb$4 ,_m
climb]s call ! cald]a ! summit1 b my bra9 is too rigid 6make t /ret*4 ,f9,y
x 0 "t 6move ag4 ,i /ood up dizzily & felt lucky t ! next sec;n 0 a
nonte*nical trudge up loose scree1 m* ( x p[d]y f9e4 ,"h at ! base (
,uhuru1 ,i 0 9 my [n _w1 s ,ell5's voice came z a surprise4 8,i'm go+ d[n10
%e sd firmly4 8,i've _h 5\<40 ,i 0 %ock$ & want$ 6p]suade h] 6g on1 b h]
/ate;t _h s.d$ >ticulat$ & def9ite4 ,h] voice didn't seem ov]ly exhau/$4 ,x
simply s.d$ z ?\< %e _h 8_h 5\<40

8,5d.s ni<tm>e80 ,i ask$4

8,5d.s ni<tm>e60 %e rep1t$ ) emphasis4 ,i knew "! 0 no?+ ,i cd say 6*ange
h] m9d4 ,? po9t 0 simply ": \r pa?s div]g$ & wd alw div]ge4 ,ellie _h alr
exp]i;ed h] summit "? ! 5tirety ( ? /range & wond];l adv5ture1 yet m9e 0 /
6be r1*$4 ,my dad1 /&+ 2h h]1 pip$ in1 8,i'm go+ d[n1 too4 ,i'm pretty
dizzy & ne$ 6keep "s 5]gy =! sev5-h\r climb d[n40 ,=a mo;t1 ,i ?"\ ab go+
d[n ) !m1 gett+ \ ( ? fo7y hi< altitude dr1m_w & back 96! _w ( oxyg51 ! _w
( humans1 b ! fe> ( wak+ up 9 ! t5t ! next "d mir$ 9 regret 0 /r;g] ?an my
exhaus;n4 ,s1 ,i decid$ 6g on simply 2c ,i knew ,i cd4 ,9 ! #aibj's :5
ask$1 8,:y d y want 6climb ,m.t ,"ee/80 & ,george ,mallory ass]t$1 8,2c x
is "!10 he 0 only /at+ ! less important half (! equ,n4 ,! unspok5 half is t
we >e "h4 ,/riv+ & a*iev+ is "p ( \r nature1 built 96\r g5etic makeup4 ,!
evid;e ( man's nature manife/s xf 9 rocket %ips 6! moon1 skyscrap]s hundr$s
( /ories hi<1 & flags plant$ on summits all >.d ! _w4 ,9 a s5se ,i "u/ood ?
-pon5t 0 misdirect$ & ne$$ 6be kept 9 *eck1 & ,i respect$ ,ellie = defy+
hundr$s ( ?\s&s ( ye>s ( g5etic impr9t+4 ,= me1 h["e1 )a p]fect sunny sky
abv me & 5 res]ves 6/ay safe1 turn+ back wd g ag/ my human nature4 ,!n1
6fly 9 ! face ( my 9fallibil;y1 my /oma* lur*$ & ,i dropp$ 6a knee1
splatt]+ vomit all ov] ! rocks4 ,i sprang up 6%[ t ,i 0 ,,ok4 8,i feel grt4
,no?+ l a ll hi<-altitude projectile vomit+40

,z ,i pull$ myf up ! la/ slope1 ,i felt z ?\< e>?'s grav;y _h 9cr1s$
t5fold4 ,baltaz> & ,i wd /op e tw5ty m9utes s t ,i cd take a few deep
br1?s1 b :5 ,i did1 x felt l oxyg5 0 2+ suck$ \ ( my lungs 9/1d ( 96!m4 ,!
air >.d me seem$ 6be /1l+ x f me4 8,tell me we're gett+ close10 ,i sd
6,baltaz>4 8,ev5 if x isn't1 give me "o ( ^? optimi/ic "t e/imates40

8,hakuna matata4 ,no pro#m4 ,v close n[40 ,he gr9n$4

,af an h\r &a half we /opp$4 8,v close n[10 he promis$4 8,i c see ! top40
,& 2c ,i want$ 62lieve hm1 ,i kept mov+4 ,? is turn+ 96an 5d.s ni<tm>e1 ,i
?"\4 ,/ep1 br1!1 br1!1 br1!4 ,/ep1 br1!1 br1!1 br1!1 /ep1 re/1 br1!4 ,f9,y
! t]ra9 level$ \ & we cross$ a field ( brok5 sn[1 ! surface brittle &
crack+ l anci5t fle%4 ,my boots /um#d 96ll divots & tripp$ ov] unexpect$
lumps4 8,": is x80 ,i ask$1 qkly los+ motiv,n4

8,"!60 ,baltaz> repli$1 po9t+ my f+] 6a place t 0 only a few feet hi<] ?an
u4 8,i see ! sign40 ,9 a few m m9utes "! 0 no place else 6g4 ,! gr.d dropp$
(f on ?ree sides4 ,a ?\s& feet 2l u1 ,i knew1 ! cald]a /ret*$ two miles &
!n dropp$ away ag1 ? "t 96=e/s & !n pla9s1 & f9,y1 hundr$s ( miles 9 !
4t.e1 ! ,9dian ,oc1n4 8,y c see x curve4 ,i don't "k ! ^w 9 ,5gli%10
,baltaz> sd1 & ,i knew he m1nt ! horizon4 ,i _h he>d ? 2f1 t f ! top (
,kilimanj>o1 y cd see ! curvature (! e>?4 ,!n ,i put my >ms >.d ,baltaz>'s
small %\ld]s4 8,?ank y10 ,i sd4

8,x is my honor10 he repli$4 8,my "f1 9 ! ,swahili tradi;n1 he is m>ri$
6sev5 wives4 ,s1 my fr1 y -e back 6! m.ta9 next ye> & 2 m>ri$ ag40

,! sign t m>k$ ! top r1d1 ,y ,>e ,n[ at ! ,uhuru ,p1k4 ,! ,hi<e/ ,po9t 9
,africa--,altitude #ehei ,met]s4 ,sitt+ on ! summit1 l1n+ =w>d ) my h1d
re/+ on my knees1 ,i ask$ ,baltaz>1 8,:at does ,uhuru m1n80 ,he ?"\ =a
m9ute4 8,freedom10 he repli$4

,freedom4 ,x 0 a ^w ,i didn't "u/&4 ,freedom f :at8 ,freedom f ! limits (
my body8 ,f pa98 ,f 4appo9t;t8 ,:at did x m1n8 ,i want$ 62lieve t 0/&+ atop
m.ta9s >.d ! _w1 ,i 0 a*iev+ ? k9d ( freedom1 or at l1/ -+ close1 b :5 /&+
9 ^! hi< places1 ! imm5se p[] (! m.ta9s only s]v$ 6magnify my [n fragil;y1
my human ne$ = food1 = oxyg51 =! help t ,i rcvd f my t1m1 =! w>m? ( _!
bodies4

,!n x came 6me1 ! ?"\ -+ sl[ly alive & *>g+ my oxyg5-/>v$ bra94 ,p]h x 0 !
freedom 6make ( my life :at ,i want$ x 6be1 or at l1/ ! freedom 6try1 or
6fail 9 ! try+4 ,p]h freedom xf 0 unobta9a# &! goal 0 only 6r1* = x1 /rive
= x1 "k+ all al;g t ,i wd fall well %ort4 ,p]h ! import.e 0 9 ! r1*+ \1 & 9
! impossibil;y ( x all1 & 9 ! r1*+ \ "? ! impossibil;y1 my body plant$
h1vily on ! e>? b my _s so>+ up & -+ impossibly close 6xs goal4 ,/&+ on !
top ( ,kilimanj>o1 ,i hu7$ ,baltaz> & r1*$ \ & t\*$ ! sign4 ,i / didn't "k
:e!r x wd 2 possi# 6br1! 9 all ,i want$ f my life1 b ,i knew t ,i wd try4

,two h\rs d[n f ! summit1 ,baltaz> & ,i /opp$ at ! top ( ,gilman's ,po9t1 :
,i knew ov]look$ ,kibo ,hut #c1ejj feet 2l u4 ,baltaz> pick$ up a pile ( s&
& put x 9 my h&4 ,i felt ! f9e p[d] slip "? my f+]s4 8,no rocks10 he sd
excit$ly4 ,we 7 atop ! _w's l;ge/ hi<-altitude s& dune4 8,d y tru/ me80 he
ask$4

8,i don't "u/&10 ,i repli$4

,he paus$ a second & ask$ ag4 8,d y tru/ me80

8,( c\rse60 ,i'd be5 rely+ on ! s.d ( 8 foot/eps & 8 v]bal direc;ns =
fifte5 h\rs4

8,take my >m10 he sd & ,i 9t]lock$ my >m ) his4 ,he 0 at l1/ a foot %ort] &
fifty p.ds li<t] ?an me1 b ,i cd feel ! /r5g? ( 8 small frame4 ,!n he 2gan
runn+1 ) me 2s hm1 \r bodies lock$ tgr1 \r move;ts 2g9n+ 6co9cide4 ,we />t$
sl[ly1 b !n pick$ up spe$1 ea* /ep dropp+ u five feet & !n ano!r two )a
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