Top of the Mountain

All my life I have been encompassed by the mountains. I have lived my simple, sheltered life nestled in the heart of Appalachia. I have stood small and helpless staring up at these gatekeepers as long as I can remember. As a child I would watch out the window as we drove around and through and over the peaks and ask curiosly, "Momma, whats on the other side?" My mother would always answer with something generic like, "More trees, and more mountains." She was trying to make me feel safe I suppose. And I did. Cradled by the mountains. I was cut off from the world. Nothing could hurt me.
The older I got however, the less I felt the mountains embracing me. The craggy fortress that once sheltered me began to confine me, began to tower over me, mocking my helplessness to its immensity. I began to look up at the mountains and fear that I would never see anything more. The ridges that once fascinated me now seemed to be closeing in on me.
The mountains would stand unmoveable over me, taunting me. The wind would rush out of the hollows and whisper "...theres no way out.....we have you now.....". The sun sets early in the valley. Even the sunshine wants to escape. All my friends move away. Life goes on....everything changes....except my prison.

Everyone asks me why I'm always on top of the mountains.

As we descend Black Mountain , I look up at the peaks I had only moments ago been staring down from. Suddenly I dont feel as trapped anymore. I suddenly remember why the top of the mountain is my favorite place in the world. The mountains may invariably stand guard around me, but I love a challenge and my soul refuses to be imprisioned. Today, I stood on top of the mountain. Today I danced in circles with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face and looked out over all the other mountains as well. Today I gazed for miles and miles, my view unhindered by the summit. For that small series of moments I am free. Absolutely free. All worry and all reality cease to exist for one frame in time. Today, I was on top of the world. Literally.
Now, standing at the bottom of the ridge I feel the wind on my face. The breeze dares to whisper, "theres no way out....we have you now....". But this time I get to look up at the dark ridge and reply, "Not today, old friend. Today I beat you." This time I get to tell the earthen wardens that even they, in all thier majesty, cannot hold captive a spirit such as mine.