The Courage to Ski

The Courage to Ski

Mika, “Don’t you want to do something that gets the wind in your hair?”, “I know you want to share an irreplaceable moment.” Mika looked at Adeline with a dubious face. Adeline continues on describing the moment they would never forget, if Mika would just say yes. Adeline describes white everywhere and a cold breeze with fresh air. She explains, “It will be exhilarating and life changing.” Mika asks, “What is this experience?” Adeline looks up and tells her that she will suck out all the fun, like she’s sucking all the flavor out of the lollipop in her mouth. Smirking playfully, “Doesn’t our friendship have trust Mika?” Mika shrugs her shoulders. She asks Adeline if at least she would like this experience. Adeline sits straight up and looks Mika straight in the eye, “Have I ever steered you wrong. Just promise me you’ll at least give it a fighting chance. You remember Cabo when you wouldn’t go parasailing and said it was too hard. Who sat with you all day encouraging you so you could impress that guy? What was his name? Hotie Monti.” Adeline just laughs to herself at the memory. Mika seems to be giving in a little.

Mika seems to be thinking for a while. Adeline just sits patiently biting on her nail. She knows that Mika is scared of heights, but feels if Mika just gave snow skiing a try she would love it as much as she does. Adeline also knows that the school is putting together a ski trip and Mika likes Allen, who will be there. Mika has been pouty for weeks saying that if only she could ski, but nothing she says will get her on the Mountain. Adeline knows that if anyone can get Mika to let her hair down it’s her. Finally Mika looks up, “Can I trust you Adeline?” Adeline smiles, “I personally love this experience and know that you will to.”

Adeline tells her to be ready in the morning by eight and to have her, ‘I can do it attitude’, awake and ready to face life at its fullest. Mika agrees and goes home a little worried. That night she has a dream. ‘Mika is surrounded by white snowflakes. They are consuming the air, making it where Mika can’t see anything. Visibility is zero. Mika is screaming for Adeline. She can hear only her faint voice in the background. She thinks she’s saying watch for the steep cliff. Mika is confused and then tries to start walking. Her feet are heavy though and something is attached to them. Mika leans down trying to feel the object which has her feet confined. Cold and hard material is all she feels. She also has the identity of her feet hidden from view. Mika tries to walk and falls. Mika all the sudden knows she needs to slide her feet. Mika struggles for thirty minutes almost in tears trying to pull herself back up. Finally she is back on her feet. She starts gliding her feet and feels her speed picking up going faster and faster in a downward direction. Mika is terrified and has no idea how she is going to stop. All she can think is that Adeline lied. She didn’t like this at all and Adeline isn’t even here to share this experience. It seems like hours and as the time passes Mika starts to enjoy her experience more. The snowflakes stop falling. The view is beautiful. Mika then sees Adeline right beside her. Was she there the whole time? Mika remembers it felt like someone had helped her get up when she fell. Mika starts smiling and joins hands with Adeline. They both reach the bottom and fall, laughing so hard that they start to cry. What an amazing experience Mika thinks.’

Mika then sits up in her bed and realizes it was all a dream. She smiles and feels that this day will be one for the books. Mika has a new found confidence and knows that the

dream is a sign she can trust Adeline. Adeline has always been there for her and it was wrong of her to doubt her. She jumps out of bed excited when she hears a knock on her bedroom door. Adeline walks in with a huge smile. Adeline then holds up a new ski outfit and closely watches for Mika’s expression. Mika hesitates for a moment then breaks into a huge smile also. Mika takes the outfit, “Let’s do this”, she replies. Adeline just laughs and tells Mika she’ll be down stairs when she is ready.

         Forty minutes later they are at the ski resort. After they get there skies, Adeline tells Mika she has enrolled her in a ski lesson. When they get there Allen is one of the instructor’s. He sees them and sends them a timid smile. Before Mika can respond she notices he is coming her way. She looks at Adeline, “I don’t know what to say.” Adeline replies, “You got this remember and I’m right here always.” Mika felt her confidence again as Allen approached. Adeline said hi and then went off to the side to watch. Allen helped Mika the whole time and they laughed and did a lot of flirting. Adeline watched with pure happiness for her friend. Suddenly Adeline felt a hand on her shoulder. As she turned around to look who it was she felt her confidence slipping. Christian Donald the hottest guy she had ever seen was standing right beside her. Christian smiled, “Hey, I heard from Allen that you, him, and Mika are going up the mountain after the lesson. I was wondering if you had room for one more. I have actually been wanting to ask you to hang out. You make me a little nervous though. I’m sounding like a dork, right? I mean if you want to hang out? If not, it’s cool really.” Adeline just looks at him shocked and then looks at Mika. Mika mouths, “You got this.” Adeline laughs and her confidence comes back. Christian looking awkward patiently waiting for a

reply. Christian then says, “Look never mind, stupid idea. If you don’t want to I get it. Hope yall have fun. You really look good by the way.” Christian mumbles under his breath and is about to leave. Adeline finally finds her words, “Wait, yes I want you to come. Of course I do. I want to get to know you to. I was just shocked. Please forgive me for being speechless. I might be the dork.” Christian smiles and tells her they can be dorks together. They both laugh. Christian slowly takes Adeline’s hand nervous on what she’ll do. Adeline just smiles and they stand there hands interlocked.

         Mika and Allen walk over and asked if they’re ready for some mountain action. Mika looks at Adeline’s and Christians hands and winks at Adeline. They all get ready and go on the lift. After they ski back down the mountain Mika gives Adeline a big hug, “Thank you so much. Best day ever.” Mika knows Adeline is one of a kind and that they will always push each other out of their comfort zones in a good way, so neither of them misses out on this amazing thing we call life.