Climbs

This is not the first time you’ve climbed this hill. You downshift into the next lowest gear and confidently stand up on your pedals in order to find that one last burst of effort that will get you to the top.

You think for a second about the first time you did this. You thought that it was death incarnate. Your host father passed you in a truck and gave you a thumbs up out the window. You wondered why he didn’t stop and offer to help given your distress was so obviously displayed across your face.

The first time you did it in 1-1. This time, you do it in 2-6.

This time, it’s just another hill on your bike ride to Savalou. You mount it and continue on. Turns out, the past 20 months have made you stronger.