Slipping, stop. Climb

Step up, step up, keep climbing, almost there.

Handrail, slipping, moving backwards.

Stop.

Moving forward, big step, little step, tripping, almost over.

Stop.

Keep walking, move up, gasping for breath. Others step, step, step past.

Handrail. Pull, hand over hand, fingers twitching, moving slowly.

Stop.

Click, click, stilettos walk past, click, click, gone. Step, step, big step, knee up to chest, step, step, handrail.

Don’t turn around, dizzy, heights, no air, can’t breathe.

Stop.

Step, step, trip, falling, handrail, fine.

Stop.

Hand, over hand, feet, just keep moving.

There, finally.

Platform, rest, heart beat slowly down.

Here.

Staring out, wind picking up, hair flying. Smog covering the mountains, far down below the mountain, people climbing, climbing.

First platform. Four more.

No. Done.

Staring out, brick and stones so old, built long ago, a wall now crumbling, its defence’s weak, now keeping out nothing.

Only tourists climbing up now, guards long gone, duty finished.

Green, grey covering the land, lake, river, old buildings. Nothing but ruins, chattering around, can’t understand. Stands at the bottom, filled.

Heart normal. Climb, climb down. Stop. Picture. Done.

Now home.