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I turned to her. “Do you want to head back or keep going?”
“You decide. I’m happy to do whatever you want.”
“Well, I’ve heard the Whisperwill Falls are breathtaking, but the trail is a little more strenuous than this one, though. Would you be up for that?”
“If you think it’s worth it, let’s do it.” She beamed. “Try to keep up slow poke.”
My mother took the lead, walking at such a brisk pace I had to jog to catch up. “Jeez, woman, what’d you eat for breakfast? You’re running circles around me.”
She laughed in reply, not breaking her stride until we reached the summit.
Propping my foot on a rock, I stretched my calf, baffled by how my mother didn’t appear to have broken a sweat.
“Look.” She nodded her chin to the horizon, and my mouth fell open at the sight before us.
A cascade of water surged down the side of the bluff, forming a waterfall that poured into a crystalline blue lake, its surface punctuated by jagged rocks. Branching off from the main waterfall, smaller ones wound around boulders, creating a sound that rumbled across the natural landscape and made my hand rest against my chest in awe.
“This is…” I savored the gentle mist on my flushed skin.
“Beautiful,” my mother finished, and I nodded in agreement, unable to find more perfect words.
All I knew was that everything was as it should be.
And, for the first time in years, I believed all would be okay.
“Come on, let’s go sit over there and eat these sandwiches. I’m starving.” I placed my hand on her elbow.
I tried guiding her over to a flat rock away from the ledge.
Her foot slipped, and she lost her balance, tumbling to the ground. The satchel dropped from my shoulder as I tried reaching for her, but she slid too fast. Her legs went over the edge, and I leaped, catching her by the hand before she went over.
“Elowyn, help me, please! Help me!” she shrieked.
“Don’t worry, I got you. Okay?” My feet shuffled behind me, trying to find a rock to cling onto to keep me from sliding off with her. “I won’t let go. I got you.”
A glowing figure appeared at my side—the one with the familiar essence, but no identifiable features. “Reach within, Elowyn.”
My feet dug into a rock, and I tugged, my hands growing slick with moisture.
“I don’t know what that means!” I yelled, using every ounce of strength I had to pull her up the cliff. My arms were growing weak. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on.
My mother’s color drained from her face. Her once glowing, vibrant hue turned ashen.
“This is all your fault. You killed me, Elowyn.” Her eyes were sunken. “You left me to die.”
My legs turned to liquid, and I slipped. “I’m sorry. I was trying to help. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Tears welled over as I clung to her for dear life, regaining my footing. “I’m trying!”
“Focus, Elowyn. Listen,” the male voice spoke again.
I turned my head to see familiar honey eyes pleading with me, begging me to understand, but there wasn’t time to figure it out.
My mother slipped from my grip, and I scrambled to recover, regaining my hold on her by the tips of my fingers.
“You ruin everything,” she spat, “nothing but a disappointment.”
I choked. “I know you don’t mean that.”
“Elowyn. Focus,” the voice said again.
