Journey for Beauty

He hung there among the misty rain, not a care in the world. Time seemed to stop. He felt no sense of danger.

He walked up into the mountains, the mountains so glorious they seemed to both quench and fuel the curiosity of human nature. Accompanied by his loyal and trustworthy companions, they continued to tread up the icy paths that posed a risk to all who dared to venture. More often than not, these brave travellers would make their way up an icy slope, only to be denied by its slippery surface, sliding uncontrollably back down only to start once again from the beginning.

Then they came to the staircase of great torment, with a 90 degree bend which pointed straight down to the depths of the unknown. But there was an option, as there always is. In order to capture with their eyes the undeniable beauty of the half frozen rushing waterfalls, they would have to descend past the staircase of great torment. But you see, this 90 degree bend had only one railing, which sat itself about 5 feet above the ground, making it easy to fall under the railing and off the side of the stairs into one’s doom. Frozen with a layer of ice, and complete with a rope, the three of the four males, with bravery and strength, surpassed the terrain and ran to the sight they were searching for.

The fourth male also passed, but stopped to look back before rushing to behold the glory of the natural wonder. With a kind and sincere heart, he delayed his excitement in order to help the females cross the stairs as well. Chivalrously and honourably, he decided to retrace his steps, and to stand at the 90 degree bend so that the females would not have a chance of falling through, should they choose to pass the staircase of great torment. Oh what a sacrifice, that he would once reverse his progress and risk his life yet again for the sake of others! How noble!

However, just as no humans are perfect, so he wasn’t perfect either. In his bravery, he unfortunately (and unavoidably) stepped onto a spot that was extra slippery. With his arms backwards leaning on the railing, he skilfully ran in spot for a couple seconds in an attempt to regain his balance. However, the power of nature was too overwhelming for him. And so his legs slipped off the side of the staircase. And he began to fall.

The females looked and were too overcome with fear to say or do anything. Their legs froze in place. Had it not been for fear, they would surely have ran to rescue him, the one who so nobly put his life at risk for them! But of course, it was only the sudden fear and shock that was holding them back, nothing else.

As his legs slipped off, and his body started sliding under the railing into the depths of the unknown, he remembered that there were things he had to accomplish in his life. With the intensity of burning magma, the fortitude of the blazing phoenix, and the strength of a thousand suns, he threw his arms up and caught the railing by his own two hands. There he was, dangling above death.

He hung there among the misty rain, not a care in the world. Time seemed to stop. He felt no sense of danger. And, once again, with strength unparalleled by all the beasts of the field and birds of the air, he pulled himself up to safety. What a sacrifice, to risk his own body to let the females know that it was dangerous for them to attempt to traverse the stairs of great torment. What a sacrifice.

His name is Joses Wong, and he is from Halifax.