stupidity. But then an image of my father flashed in my mind-the man who had give

cue team. The captain, a man named

on?" he answered, hi

ey went up Mount Crestwood for the sun

ing a team immediately. Keep trying to call

ght to voicemail. Chloe's phone was off. Emily's, the same. I called a

he hospital window. I looked at my father, his chest rising and falling in a slow, shallow rhythm, the oxyg

urse, then quietly left the room,

ld so hard the wipers couldn't keep up. The road became a slick, dark ribbon. Electronic warning signs flashed b

rescue team's vehicles were already there, lights flashing in the deluge

here?" he yelled when he saw me.

h you," I said

not a first responder. You'll only ge

, the words tasting like a lie e

y relented with a frustrated sigh. "Fine! But you st

the trained professionals of the rescue team. The climb was brutal. The trail was a torrent of mud and water. My muscles screamed in protest,

We searched all night, calling their names until our voices were raw. The rain

Several team members were also nursing minor injuries. The entire team was ex

escue teams and a helicopter to search fr

bag, started ringing. The screen lit up with a nam

t dropped the phone. "Sarah!

ame through the line, comp

t? Dozens of missed calls after you were unre

ain soaking my clothes-it all vanished, replaced by a hollow, ringing sile

he called out. "Let's go hit the hot springs.

ice filled with impatience. "Look, I told you we'd go

ne wen

hey weren't on the mountain. They were never on the mountain. They

tched with anxiety. "Well? W

-dawn sky, the grey clouds mirroring the emptiness inside me, and I started to laugh. I

e agony in my chest. One of the rescue team members, a young guy named

, I saw Alfred standing there,

ick with emotion. "You knew your fath

into a black, bottomless pit. I pushed past him, my limp forgotten,

he was just pulling a clean white

ad

out, and I collapsed by the bedside, the

ad followed me inside, quietly explained everything. He told Alfred a

rk, his eyes burning with a righteous fury. But then he sighed, a deep, shuddering sound,

he names of Sarah, Chloe, and Emily." He paused, his voice hardening slightly. "Regardless of everything,

grief, I cou

-