Dr. Schwartz spoke with the nursing team at length, read through Mitch’s chart on a computer at the nurse’s station, then finally walked into the room. “I hear there was some excitement today.”
Once again, Megs described what had happened, Dr. Schwartz listening, a thoughtful frown on his face. “Is he in a minimally conscious state now?”
Dr. Schwartz examined Mitch, then turned back to Megs. “I believe we’re seeing a steady progression toward consciousness. His intracranial pressure continues to decrease. He’s taking some breaths on his own. This is good progress. We’ll be watching him closely—with your help. Keep doing what you’re doing. I saw there was progress with his pneumonia, too.”
Megs had to ask. “When will we know his life is out of danger?”
“We’re not there yet, but everything is moving in the right direction. You need to prepare yourself for the long haul.”
Mitch pulledtheir haul bag up to the ledge known as Big Sandy, set protection for it, then took a long, deep drink. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so exhausted or excited. “Look at this view.”
They’d taken turns leading and were now seventeen pitches up Half Dome, a mere six pitches from becoming the first people to free climb the Regular Northwest Face. They’d had a few hairy moments, but they’d taken their time and worked through them. They would bivouac here for the night and head for the summit of Half Dome early tomorrow morning.
Roped in, Megs sat, dangled her legs over the edge, water bottle in her hand, the sunset turning her hair to gold. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Beautiful.” He checked his protection and sat beside her, taking her hand in his. “I’ve spent three summers climbing here in the Valley, but this has been the best summer of my life. You showed me I’m capable of doing more than I knew.”
She rested her head against his arm. “You respected me and accepted me when the others saw only a girl.”
He kissed her hair. “I think they’ve come around. You’re a girl who can climb.”
A helicopter flew by in the distance, stopping to hover when it came parallel with their position.
Megs stared. “Are they filming us?”
“I think they are.” Mitch chuckled. “We’re going to be on the news.”
They waved to the helicopter, then broke into the haul bag for some calories and water, talking about the day’s climb as they ate and drank. Then for a time, they sat together in comfortable silence.
“You know how the world goes quiet when you’re climbing? One moment you’re aware of everything, and the next, it’s like you’re floating in sunlight. One move leads to the next. Your body gets lost in some kind of dance with the rock. You’re not who you were a moment ago. Now, you’re breath and sweat and movement. And all the struggle, all of the fear and bullshit—it just disappears.”
Mitch looked at the beautiful girl beside him, her words putting a hitch in his chest. She’d just described the sublime experience of climbing in a way that he, with his reading and college education, couldn’t. “Walt Whitman must be getting to you.”
She laughed. “Maybe.”
They watched the sunset, then turned on their headlamps and set up their bivy for the night, checking their protection before stretching out beside each other, the ledge just wide enough for them to lie down side by side.
Mitch drew her against him, his chest her pillow, the feel of her precious. He didn’t need sex to feel close to her. Somehow, it was enough just to be with her, talk to her, hold her.
God, he was going to miss her.
He hadn’t told her yet, but school started in a few weeks. Soon, he would have to drive back to Stanford and settle in for his senior year. He would much rather remain here, living like a dirtbag, if it meant he could spend every minute of the day with Megs.
“Look at the stars. They’re so bright here. I can even see the Milky Way.”
He pointed. “There’s Venus. That’s Cassiopeia over there.”
They talked about the stars, UFOs, and NASA’s decision to end the Moon missions last year. But they were both fatigued from today’s climb, and soon the conversation stilled.
“Mitch?”
“Yeah?”
“I want this summer to last forever.”
He held her closer, kissed her temple. “So do I.”
They both fell into an exhausted sleep.
