1.2.14 The Scenic Route
When we get to the starting point of the hiking trail, I browse the brochure that I picked up from the lodge as Paul snaps more pics of the snow to send to the girls.
I see that the trail he picked is one of the less intensive ones, and I’m grateful that it’ll be more of a leisurely stroll. Paul could easily handle something for more experienced hikers, but he wouldn’t want to put me in a situation I wasn’t prepared for.
“Wait ‘til we get to the first bridge,” he tells me excitedly. “You’ll love the view.”
The view from the bridge is impressive indeed. I find myself in awe of my surroundings, and think about how there’s so much of the world I haven’t seen.
“You never really told me about your previous trip here,” I mention to Paul.
“Oh, I haven’t? Well, Lucy, Danica, and I decided we wanted to climb to the top of Mt. Komorebi. We practiced climbing at home for a while, then we came here after Danica and I finished undergrad.”
“Was it much of an adjustment to climb in the snow?”
“For sure. The cold made our hands numb, and it was a bit more slippery.”
“But you made it to the top, right?”
“Yeah, we did. On one of the easier trails.”
“Well, you still made it. I bet it was a good feeling.”
“It was. Do you want to give it a try?”
“Ha ha. I’m good.”
“You should try one of the smaller climbs at least.”
“Hmm, maybe.” With my proven track record of failed climbs, I’m not sure about his suggestion. Do I really need to embarrass myself on another mountain?
As we continue on the trail, I start feeling better about leaving the girls. It’s nice to have an experience alone with Paul, something that’s just ours. It’s been so long since we’ve had that. I start to feel nostalgic for the beginning of our relationship, when we were young and free of the responsibilities of parenthood. Not a feeling of regret, but more of a realization that we truly needed this time to ourselves.
“I’m glad we’re in such a good place with each other,” I say after a moment of silence. “We’ve both been putting so much effort into repairing things. It’s nice that it just feels natural again, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, I do. Relationships always take work, but I don’t feel like it’s a struggle right now.”
“We’ve both learned a lot. I’ve learned to be more open.”
“And I’ve learned to be more patient and present. I’m really sorry that I haven’t always been mindful of your trauma and how it impacts your daily life.”
“I appreciate that. And I’m sorry that I sometimes expected you to read my mind.”
“No, I should’ve been more receptive to your needs.”
“Well, what matters is you are now. We can’t change the past, but we can make better decisions for our relationship in the future.”
When we get to the end of the trail, Paul kisses me gently on the cheek. “I’m really glad we’re here,” he says softly.
“Me, too.”
After the hike, we settle into the lodge for lunch and a nap. Afterward, we decide to visit the onsen bathhouse.
We both shower before we enter the onsen springs. With the steam surrounding us, we both feel warm and happy. It’s hard not to take advantage of the time alone. We kiss a bit, and I’m overtaken by the moment.
I straddle his lap and kiss him some more. I stop myself from taking things further–we are in a public place, after all, and though I find the thought of getting caught a bit exhilarating, I don’t want to be disrespectful. “I think we should go back to the lodge,” I suggest with a sly smile.
“Sounds good to me.”
Previous | Beginning of Story | Beginning of Chapter | Next