"I have to go," I quickly shout to her, almost laughing at myself. She's the third person within just two days that I leave standing with these words and a bewildered expression. "I'll keep you posted," I add before darting around the corner toward the street.
I have the taxi drop me off as close as possible to the gorge. Our ride ends at Lazarusweg. With trembling fingers, I pay the taxi driver and exit the car. Then I march up the hiking path to the junction where Noah and I once stood.
Back then, when I had no inkling why he absolutely refused to go into the gorge with me.
I enter the narrow path and follow it between the mountains on my right and the forest on my left. The ground becomes rockier, and I immediately regret wearing only sneakers. I almost twist my ankle. I stumble but manage to catch myself.
"Noah?" I call his name over and over again as I walk along the path, which leads me into an increasingly rugged environment.
Suddenly, a rushing sound reaches my ears. I move toward the noise until an impressive waterfall appears before my eyes. The roaring water plunges into the depths, gathering in a turquoise-colored river that winds its way through the bright limestone cliffs.
Once again, I call for Noah. I turn in all directions, but it seems to be in vain. There's no one else in sight either. Only a few unusually large birds glide above me through the sky. I watch them and notice dark clouds moving in front of the sun.
Will the weather turn bad?
Thoughtfully, I track the path of the clouds. Back there, where they come from, the sky seems to bebrightening again. If it rains at all, it will be brief. Not a big deal.
Fully focused on my mission, I step onto the wooden bridge that crosses the stream and leads to a narrow trail. It's barely twenty inches wide, with steep earthy ground right next to it. On the opposite side, there's a rock. I search for ways to hold on and find small ledges that provide some security as I carefully place one foot in front of the other.
I progress slowly by using this method, but at least I'm moving forward. Hopefully, I'll find Noah soon.
As feared, the rain starts. Large drops splash on the top of my head, then on my forehead and shoulders. Within seconds, a downpour drenches my jacket.
I hadn't expected this, but I won't let it stop me. I've come this far, so I can push through to the end.
Nothing can stop me. Not even the fierce rumbling of thunder that makes me flinch.
"Noah?" I shout again with all my strength as I venture deeper into the gorge.
Suddenly, the muddy ground beneath my sneakers gives way. I flail my arms in the air, but I still lose my balance.
My control over my body slips away.
Fractions of a second later, I fall.
I land on the slope with a hard thud. There's nothing to hold on to. I slide down the abyss. Deeper and faster.
Grass, clouds, mountains. Everything whizzes by so rapidly that the images before my eyes merge.
My foot gets caught on something hard. A searing pain shoots through my ankle.
I scream.
Uncontrollably, my head collides with a rock.
"Fuck," I manage to groan before sinking into a dark abyss.
