Writing Exercise 99: Carrying A Body

Brian Kiteley's The 4 A.M Breakthrough is a great way to get those writer juices flowing. Personally, I have used this book many times and found it very useful. If you would like a copy of this book you can get yours through Amazon, or like me use Abe Books owned by Amazon but get deeper price cuts on used books.

Pictured above is my own copy with a lovely bookmark my hubby drew for me. Without further ado here its is.

I had been carrying the body of my friend for days. The weight had felt good in my hands, solid: Cold, a stark contrast with the dry scorching heat. The footfalls of my hiking boots scratched a rhythm through the hard-packed sand. Scratch...scratch...Inhale. Red sand surrounded us. I could feel it in my mouth as I reached for my water bottle. With a swish, I re-hydrated pausing only a moment to see how far I had come.

We had known one another since college. He was the geeky freshman his first time away from home. I was the all-star with a hidden artistic side. Those early days were rough but once he gave in to the fun there was no going back. Then it was the geek staying out all night partying instead of pulling all-nighters to study. The oppressive heat sucked the energy directly from his body and his steps slowed. Scratch...inhale...scratch...exhale. According to the map, the destination wasn't far, but the load, though small, was getting heavy. In the distance, I could see a tiny solitary shack and began heading for it. I remember graduation and how relieved we were that it was finally over. Now we were truly men we thought. My steps fell lighter as the shack became closer. A sign by the door read guided tours offered.

I shifted the weight of my friend and opened the door. An older gentleman sat on a wooden stool inside. He looked up expectantly and said, “Mountain tours are fifty bucks with a guide and twenty-five without.”

“I've been carrying the body of my friend for days.”, I said. “Do you have a vehicle I could use to travel up the mountain?”

“The only vehicle I have is my personal vehicle, and we won't be able to take it up all the way.”, he said. “But I would be willing to take you up the mountain for a price.”

After the details of the price were negotiated we took a short break for dinner. A simple dinner was prepared by the older man which he shared. And then it was time to pick up my heavy burden again. The older man had a jeep parked behind the shack, which they piled into. Before long they had reached as far as the jeep would go and the driver let me out. “Would you like me to take him the rest of the way up?”, he asked looking at my hands.

“No. I've been carrying the body of my friend for days.”, I answered. My breathing labored, I finally reached the top after a good hour of hiking, and from my perch could see the little shack. “Well, Vadim we're finally here. I hope now you can finally rest in peace.” I opened the steel lid of the urn and turned it over to let Vadim find his escape to the open air and let the wind take charge of his final resting place.