His body shivered uncontrollably. Through the fog of the pain and shock, Adam came to the terrifying realization that they would almost certainly die on the mountain. It was going to be their last night on the earth. How did they go from a having great day to this?
Maddie still had a chance, though. She could probably make it to safety. He couldn’t allow both of them to die. His heart warmed at the thought of her surviving. It gave him a sliver of hope. He had to convince her to try. From that point on, all he could think of was saving Maddie’s life.
Focus on saving Maddie. Ignore the pain. Ignore the urge to slip into unconsciousness right now. Don’t let her see your fear.
Adam stared at Maddie and wondered what she was thinking. Her contorted face told him that she had come to the same conclusions.
He said, “Maddie, you’re going to have to go for help.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she said, “No! I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to try,” he pleaded. “If you don’t go, we’re both going to die on this mountain.”
“There’s no way I could make it down in time,” she sobbed. “Besides, even if I did make it down, how would anyone be able to get back up here in this storm?”
“I can probably last through the night knowing that you’re safe. You can bring help in the morning,” he said weakly.
She stared at him, horrified. Tears continued to stream down her face. Some seemed frozen in place. She tried to wipe them back with her gloves.
They both fell silent for a few moments and let the gravity of their situation sink in. Then something passed over her face. Was it a look of peace?
She must be about to lose it too.
Or was it a look of resolve? Maddie straightened suddenly, as if set in determination. She lowered her face inches away from Adam’s and looked directly into his eyes, as if her next words were of the utmost importance. She cupped his face in her gloved hands.
“Adam, listen carefully to me. I’m not leaving you on this mountain. And we are not going to die tonight,” she said with conviction.
She said it with such certainty that Adam wanted to believe her. But he knew that she was just putting on a brave face for his sake. His head started spinning again. He tried one more attempt. Maybe begging would help.
“Please listen to me, Maddie!” he pleaded. “Now is not the time to be strong-willed. I don’t want you to die. I could never forgive myself for that. I’ll be fine. You go get help. It’s the only way we might have a chance. Please!”
“No! I am not letting you die up here alone! We are going to make it!” she screamed.
She spoke the words so forcefully and with such resolve and determination that he knew she meant them. He couldn’t talk her out of it. He felt his body slump further into the ground. Sadly, he realized that she would not leave him. His last sliver of hope for her survival was snuffed out. As much as she tried to hide the truth with her words, he knew without a doubt that they would freeze to death on the mountain. Adam loathed this complete and utter helplessness. He felt despair crush his chest as he struggled to breathe. But he wanted to, had to, stay composed for her.
She lay down in the snow and faced him as she pressed her body close to his. In happier times, this would’ve been a welcome gesture. But seeing her give up and prepare to die with him was more than he could bear. He closed his eyes and, with a childlike hope, thought that if he couldn’t see what was happening, then it must not really be happening. He tried to erect a mental block from all the pain and despair and hopelessness.
He felt her wrap her arms around him and the warmth of her breath on his cheek. He knew this was going to be their last moment together, their last embrace, but he had no words to say.
What do you say when you and the person you love the most in this world are about to die?
There was only one thing to say. He wrapped his arms around her as best he could and said, “I love you, Maddie.”
A fresh batch of tears welled up in her eyes as a smile spread across her face. She hugged him even more tightly and said softly, “I love you, too, Adam. Don’t worry. I promise you, we are not going to die on this mountain.”
He had to smile at her earnest attempt to comfort him, even though he knew that the promise she had just made could not be kept. She loved him, and that was all he needed to hear. He clung to that thought as they lay there in the snow together, arms wrapped around each other in their last embrace.
Adam started to feel himself losing consciousness, and he didn’t think he could fight it any longer. He heard his own voice as if it were coming from somewhere far away, say, “Maddie, kiss me.”
She moved in closer and pressed her lips to his. This would be their last kiss. All of the love that he felt for her spread throughout his body. He hoped that she could feel it too. If he had to die, this was the way to go. Knowing that she loved him was enough. He closed his eyes again and gave in to the powerful urge to go to sleep and never wake up.
As he drifted into unconsciousness, he heard her ghostlike voice comforting him, like a mother comforting a child.
“That’s right, Adam,” she said.
