Chapter 3
Taylor
I stared down at the map spread out on the inn’s rustic wooden table, my finger tracing the winding trails that led into the pristine wilderness surrounding the quaint mountain valley.
As I methodically folded and packed each item into my hiking backpack, my laptop sat open nearby, Alex’s voice droning out at me.
Her face wore that trademark mischievous grin. “You know, most people curl up and order room service when the weather’s this bad. Instead, you’re packing a bag to go out.”
I shot her a half-hearted glare, determined to make sure I had everything I needed for the upcoming three-day hike.
“Well, Alex, most people don’t own billion-dollar resort empires and have to make sure their investments are worth it.”
I carefully rolled up a waterproof jacket and secured it in the backpack, then continued to organize the rest of my gear. Alex leaned in closer to the camera, her eyes full of concern. I could tell that playfulness from before had taken a back seat.
“Seriously, though, Taylor, this storm is going to be nuts. Are you sure you want to go through with this hike? You can always evaluate the area. The resort isn’t going anywhere.”
Water bottle in one hand, I sighed and massaged my temple with the other. “I need this, Al. I’ve been feeling stuck for months. Being out there will help to clear my head, get back to basics.”
The wind howled outside, causing the inn’s windows to rattle ominously. Alex heard it, and her face dropped. Just then, the call started to sputter in and out of focus as the reception became sketchy.
Her voice crackled through the speakers. “Taylor, can you hear me? I don’t think this is a good idea.”
I could hear her just fine, even though the video was messing around. But she didn’t need to know that.
“What?” I shoved an extra pair of wool socks into my bag. Then I took it out again.
It was three days, but I was going to have to lug the backpack the whole way. I had to be super discerning about what made the cut.
“Taylor?” Alex’s voice rang out in alarm. She was convinced she was losing me.
I checked my laptop again and realized that this time it was for real. The square where her face should’ve been was completely black. Her voice came through, all broken and stuttered.
“Al? Alex?” My frustration grew, and I slammed my laptop shut, ending the call abruptly.
It was a small comfort having her in the room with me, but she would’ve used whatever time we had left to try to keep me from going through with the hike. I didn’t know how to explain to her why this was so important to me.
Weather, their doubts… none of it was going to stop me. I was determined to push forward with my plan. I needed this hike to find some clarity and reconnect with the world beyond boardrooms and business deals.
Beyond weddings and everybody else’s happy endings.
As I made my way out of the cozy inn, the desk clerk offered me a word of warning, her eyes filled with genuine concern.
“Ma’am, the storm’s coming in real fast. Are you sure you want to go out there?”
I brushed her warning aside with a dismissive smile. “I’ll be fine. I’ve hiked in worse.”
“It’s just… we usually warn our guests to wait out the worst before-”
“I got it, okay?” I shot over my shoulder. “This isn’t my first rodeo.”
If she said anything further it landed on the door to the inn slamming shut behind me.
Driving out to the trail, I could already see that the weather was taking a turn for the worse. Dark clouds hung low in the sky and the blistering wind carried a warning of its own.
But it only made me more determined to forge ahead. To get out there and beat the storm, finding that connection with nature I’d been hankering for. Away from everyone and everything.
When I finally arrived at the trailhead the storm felt as though it was right on top of me. Snow whipped through the air in a swirling frenzy, stinging my face as I tightened the straps on my hiking backpack. With a deep breath, I set out along the trail, resolved to do more than get away.
I wanted to prove everyone wrong, too.
As I trudged along the snow-covered trail, the uneven footing made each step a precarious gamble.
The howling wind seemed to conspire with the wilderness, pushing me to the edge of my balance.
At times, my foot would sink unexpectedly into a hidden pocket of snow, threatening to send me sprawling.
But I steadied myself, digging deep to find what I needed to go on despite the treacherous conditions.
The storm raged around me, making me draw parallels between the tempestuous weather and the tumultuous state of my own heart. My friends had all found their forever loves, and I couldn’t be happier for them, of course.
But…
Being surrounded by their romantic bliss amplified the sense of loneliness that had settled within me. So old and ripe, it was starting to feel like who I was at the core. Alone.
Unable to feel my face, it was love that I thought about as I plodded up the trail.
Wondering what it would take for me to find that elusive spark with someone.
Or if it simply wasn’t on the cards for me.
The thought gnawed at me like a persistent ache, more acutely painful than the icy cold biting through my bones.
As the trail continued to wind upward I was challenged by the slippery slopes and relentless winds. I knew full well what this was about. It was more than evaluating the area for my upcoming resort. In fact, it had little to do with that at all.
One foot after the other, it was more like I was searching for the missing piece of my own heart.
Just then I stumbled over, knocked flat by a sudden gust of wind as the storm finally hit.
The ferocity of it kept me down, had me gasping for breath with my face an inch from the ground.
Snowflakes swirled around me like a blinding swarm, making it nearly impossible to see the trail ahead.
Trees shook and whistled with gusts of wind, and the temperature plummeted to a bone-chilling low.
I gritted my teeth and used all my strength to push up to stand. The weight of my backpack had me swaying unsteadily, fighting to find solid footing. But I didn’t turn back. I pushed on for a bit longer, my stubbornness warring with the realization that I might have underestimated the storm.
“Focus, Taylor. You’ve got this.” My boots sank into the accumulating snow. It was getting very bad, very fast.
Soon, the trail in front of me was completely obscured and I couldn’t even see the trail markers anymore. It was with a heavy heart that I made the call—I had to call it and go back to the inn.
It was my only option, but as I turned around I saw the trail I had been following was now indistinguishable from the rest of the landscape beneath the thick blanket of snow. Panic welled up inside me as a chilling truth took root in my gut.
I had no idea where I was or which way to go. Lost in the whiteout.
The once-familiar surroundings were now totally alien and disorienting, making my way back to safety nothing more than a wish on a breeze.
All the while the storm beat on, buffeting me around as I struggled to cut a path through the deepening snow. Each gust of icy wind wore away my earlier resolve, and I regretted not listening to Alex’s advice.
Panic clawed at the edges of my mind as I lumbered through the blinding snow, disoriented and lost in the unforgiving wilderness. My heart raced, and fear surged through me as I tried to regain control. But calm was virtually impossible out there, in a blur of white chaos.
The bitter cold chewed through my thermal layers and settled deep in my bones. Every breath I took froze my lungs.
In my mounting panic I stumbled on the uneven terrain, and before I could react I was tumbling headfirst down a steep hill. I fought, flailing wildly in the hope my grasping fingers would close on some unseen lifeline. But it was no use. My backpack dragged me down like a ten-ton boulder.
The descent felt endless, and the world seemed to spin and whirl around me. All white. The effect was dizzying and, with a sickening thud, I collided with an exposed tree root.
And all the while the storm raged on, indifferent to the woman it had swallowed whole, who was slowly losing consciousness in the depths of its ice-cold bowels.