The taste of the warm, silky hot coffee soothed me as I slowly walked up the mountain, shivering.  I looked ahead of me and stared into the gloomy, cool air, wishing I stayed home in my cozy heated house.  I knew there was no turning back now.  I had to continue the trek to conquer the mountain.

As I traveled up the mountain the large, rigid rocks guarded the path like soldiers trying to protect their homeland.  There was no way to avoid the enormous boulders, so I had to climb over them. I placed my two palms on a slimy, damp rock and forcefully pushed on the rock and lifted myself up and over.  The rock left a large indentation across my palm, but I knew the cut wasn't going to keep me from continuing the trail. 

As my sister and I continued up the mountain, my eye caught the sight of a gorgeous, bewitching waterfall.  The deep, blue water flowed solemnly.  When the light hit the water just right the water reflected a shimmery glow like a firefly in the night.

My legs ached from the miles we had already walked, and in the distance a steep, enormous hill was coming up.  “You can do it, Liv!’ my sister said to me confidently. I knew I had to, but I didn’t know how much my legs, feeling like a bowl of jello, could handle. I was still determined to complete this hike, so I started heading up the hill.

I breathed heavily like one who had just completed a marathon when we finally reached the intricate building that towered over me.  I felt like an ant as I looked toward the top of the structure.  The building was gray and layered with a vine coat and outlined in mushy mold.  As I entered the building I noticed a tall staircase. The staircase had roughly cut edges and cracked stone.

The towering trees and leaves, turning from green to candy apple red and pumpkin orange, followed me like ducklings swimming after their mom as I walked to our final destination.  I stood over a large piece of rock that blanketed the cushioned tops of the evergreens.  It felt like paradise. I could taste the crisp air and smell the aroma of fresh pines. It was in this moment that I knew the challenge paid off a special reward.

Sometimes we don't realize the beauty that can come from a challenge. We can feel pain in many ways but need to understand that we can discover new amazing things through pain. I was cold, achy, tired, and sore but knew I found a relaxing place to think and appreciate by the journey's end.

-Olivia Marino