Page 20 of Alluring Adventure

“Nah. Although I liked hanging out with the boys, I didn’t want to be one so Merry Men didn’t work.”

I want to ask Ols about his sister but I’m not sure if making him talk is a good idea.

“What are you thinking?” He asks and his eyes find mine.

“If it’s wiser to keep you talking, so at least I know you’re conscious or if it’ll cause you too much pain.”

“What did you want to ask me?”

“About you and your sister? You seem close.”

“We are. When we were younger… we didn’t hang out much, but once we were both out of the terrible teens… and realised we were both interested in outdoor… adventures, we started to hang out more. We are different. She is more… carefree.” He talks slowly with gaps when he inhales.

“When my parents died in a car accident I thought my sister and I would grow closer but although we grieved together our lives just didn’t connect very much,” I sigh.

“Is that something you regret?”

I think for a second. “Oddly, no. You can’t force being close to someone. It’s not that we never talk. But I think it hurt more when I lost friends because of my job.”

“How so?”

“When you’re travelling somewhere new every week, it’s only natural that you start to drift away from friends. At first, we made an effort to stay in touch and meet up whenever I was back. But as time went on, we ended up missing so much of each other’s lives that keeping close became tough. Now, when we do catch up, it’s more reminiscing about the past than sharing what’s currently happening. And that’s okay—friendships don’t always last forever, but it makes for a lonely life sometimes.”

“I’ve lived in the same village all my life and I’ve kind of… lost touch with friends in the last few years… we still hang out occasionally but… with work, and my mum my days are busy.”

“What’s with your mum?” A little black bug is trying to crawl up his cheek and I swat it away.This is your only warning, my friend, next time I’ll squash you.

“Since my dad died, she’s gone through waves of depression… but she refuses to accept help… from anyone but me… or Hannah, if she offered any.”

He doesn’t sound bitter. Sad maybe.

“Hannah just can’t handle seeing Mum so down and her way of dealing with it is to hide away. I mean, I get it but—” another cough causes Ols to cry out in agony.

“But you also need a break sometimes?” I finish his sentence when he’s recovered.

“Yes. Flying gives me a couple of hours of freedom.”

“Have you ever spoken about it with your mum?”

“No!”

“Or a therapist?”

“She doesn’t want to see one.” He turns his hand around and moves it towards me. I link our fingers and it seems to relax him a little.

“I meant haveyouspoken to a therapist. After my parents died I had some therapy and it helped me a lot. A therapist could help you manage your mum even if she doesn’t want to see one herself.”

Ols doesn’t reply. His eyes are directed to the sky. The wind must have died down because I can hear birdsong rather than the sound of the wind in the treetops.

“Maybe,” he finally mumbles. And I promise myself I won’t let him forget that if we ever get down from this mountain.

Chapter 12

Oliver

You would think I’dget used to the pain, but I don’t. The tiniest movement makes me want to scream. The pain numbs my other senses and at times I just want to close my eyes and sleep. But Keeley is relentless in keeping me awake.

She talks and talks, and every so often asks me a question, probably just to check I’m still conscious. Having her here has been my salvation, as much as I hate that I got her into this situation.

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