Photo Challenge — Stairway to Heaven

Fandango

It was known throughout the region as the Stairway to Heaven. Eric had exhausted himself on the steep hike to the summit. And while the view from the zenith was full of splendor, the tension he felt in the pit of his stomach was palpable, as the way back down looked treacherous.

Tightly gripping the handrails of the long and winding path, Eric took a deep breath as a chilling mist started moving in from the west. He tried to quash his feeling of trepidation as he began the journey back to the village, barely visible in the distance.

Eric attempted to ignore the veritable mind games that the thin air at this elevation was causing. But step by step, he headed down.

It took him much longer than he thought it would to make it to the bottom, but once he was safely there, he made a vow to himself to spend the rest of his time on the planet living a life of leisure. After all, he had just turned eighty and he felt that there would be no complaint from his family, including his great grand children, if he slowed down a little.

Written for the Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie Photo Challenge. Photo credit: Mark Payton. Also for these daily prompts: My Vivid Blog (zenith/game), Ragtag Daily prompt (splendor/mist), Your Daily Word Prompt (palpable/veritable), Word of the Day Challenge (gripping/chilling), and The Daily Spur (leisure/complaint).

12 thoughts on “Photo Challenge — Stairway to Heaven”

  3. donmatthewspoetry October 6, 2021 / 10:36 pm

    Golly gosh,….I didn’t think getting to heaven would look so demanding. I’ll stay where I am thankyou………..

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  4. Nope, Not Pam October 7, 2021 / 2:36 am

    I wouldn’t have attempted that at 20, let alone 80 😀. Great tale Fandango

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  7. Lorraine October 8, 2021 / 9:08 pm

    It would take me from now to year 80 to make it up and back . . .

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  8. leigha66 October 23, 2021 / 3:40 pm

    Nope, not at any age would you get me on that steep tall staircase!

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  9. Marleen October 23, 2021 / 7:34 pm

    My hands are sweating just looking at it in a photo. (No, I don’t usually have clammy hands. But I developed a height issue somewhere in my forties [and, on a note not related to those stairs, a slight claustrophobia in my thirties].)

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