One Wrong Step

Atlas was 12 years old when he reached his first summit. He and his parents moved to Utah from Britain for the sake of his mother’s health, which continued to deteriorate. Although Atlas’s mother used to climb with him and his father, she no longer had the strength, and she cried as she waved goodbye to her husband and son, who headed for Kings Peak and spent several days climbing to the summit. During the journey, Atlas wore a scarf that his mother knitted for him. Atlas was surprised at the increasing difficulty of the ascent, but he reached the summit with his father’s encouragement. Gazing in all directions, Atlas found the view breathtaking.

Suddenly, a storm brewed overhead, so Atlas and his father had to race down the mountain more quickly than planned. At one point, Atlas ended up sliding down on his feet and felt as though he could conquer the world. However, when he and his father returned home, Atlas’s grandfather told them that Atlas’s mother had died. Atlas ran off to a private place and cried alone.

Now, three years later, Atlas and his father continue to go climbing together. To date, they have climbed several mountains, and Atlas feels ready to climb to the summit of Mount Everest alongside his father, although his father does not agree.