Guayusa

"When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up." - Les Brown

That afternoon we found ourselves on top of another snow capped mountain, covered from head to toe in skiing gear. You could see the multicoloured jackets of those making their way down the slope.

What are we doing here? I typed out.

"I'm teaching to snowboard." He grinned at me.

How do you know I don't know how to snowboard already?  I raised my eyebrow.

"We'll just have to find out don't we?" He smirked and clipped his board onto his shoes. "Meet you at the bottom!" Dylan shouted as he positioned his board down the slope. I hesitated, looking down at the slope sighing, Dylan was already out of sight. Carefully I stood on the board and tried copying Dylan. I put my phone in an inside pocket for safekeeping before sliding my goggles over my eyes.

My heart was pounding from the adrenaline in my blood, and my breath was coming out in large puffs of steam. Taking a deep breath I angled my board down the slope and leaned forward. I slid down the snow at a slow speed but not too long after, I toppled over having lost my balance. I gasped as my face fell in the snow. I sat up and wiped my goggles. I looked around to find Dylan but there were too many skiers and snowboarders to locate him. After a few minutes of struggling I managed to stand up on my board again so I took a few minutes to calm myself before I set off.

I didn't see the snow-covered rock and I found myself face deep in snow. I got up and tried again without any better results. By the third time I had fallen I didn't bother getting back up. There was no point, I was just going to fall. I sat with my head between my knees, holding back my tears. Dylan had left me while I couldn't even balance on the board.

"You thought I had left you didn't you!" He chuckled, falling to the ground beside me. Sniffling, I nodded. "Hey, hey why are you crying?" He frowned at me. I pointed at the snowboard and then to the slopes.

"You can't snowboard can you?" He grinned at me. I shook my head in response. "Well I guess I should show you the next beautiful thing on my list." He scrambled to stand in front of me. "Get up!" He commanded.

I just shook my head and dropped it into my hands. He opened his arms to me. I looked up to see his smiling face, with the sun blazing around his helmet giving the impression of a halo. I took his hands and allowed him to pull me to my feet, well board.

"First rule when learning to snowboard is finding your centre of balance. Your arms should be almost perpendicular to the board and your knees should be slightly bent so you can manoeuvre your way across the snow. Your board should be facing the direction you want to go and your lead leg should be in front. Apply only a slight pressure and your should be rolling down in now time." He instructed. I took a deep breath and positioned myself before pushing my leg down.

I found myself hurtling down the slope with no idea on how to stop or slowly down. The only way I knew how was to find myself with a face full of snow, so that's what I did. I purposely toppled over to stop, using my hands to break my fall. I blinked away the tears that were forming as I became more frustrated with myself. I couldn't snowboard and there was no way I would get down the mountain. There were children younger than me snowboarding perfectly down the supposedly easy slope.

Dylan glided effortlessly on the soft snow, looking mesmerising as the sun glinted off his helmet. My heart warmed as he grinned while pulling a trick after which he landed firmly on the snow. I continued to watch him as he helped a child stand after falling over. The boy had a constant smile on his face I wondered if his muscles hurt. "What are you doing on the floor?" He asked. "Come on! If you want to get down, you're going to have to snowboard down." He grinned.

"We can go slowly, and I'll be there the whole time." He promised. I nodded, whilst pushing myself up. True to his word, we snowboarded down the slope together with him shouting the occasional tip to improve my technique. I fell over a few more times but having Dylan by my side every time didn't make me despair over my lack of any athletic abilities. I didn't realise we had reached the bottom till Dylan pulled me to a stop.

"You made it!" He cried happily. "Granted it took a long time, you made it down the mountain. Want to try again?" Surprisingly I found myself nodding. I didn't think I'd want to snowboard after the somewhat traumatic experience I had the first time down but some thing inside me wanted to do it.

We found ourselves sitting on the ski lift once more, taking us back up the mountain. I felt more prepared as I settled on the snow. I was more determined to make it without falling so many times. Together we set off down the slope, Dylan showing off his skills as he zig zagged across my path while I continued my route downwards. I did fall over many times but each time I got up I was better at holding my balance. By the time we made it down the mountain again I was exhausted. My legs were quivering, and my breath was ragged.

"I think we're done for today don't you think?" Dylan chuckled. I agreed, thankful he didn't mention trying it again. "Let's go an rent a cabin for the night then. Except we have to go back up there." He took my hand and led me back up the mountain. The ski lift wasn't as frightening this time, and I was able to enjoy the view. Our ski boots touched the crisp snow and soon we were making our way to the reception.

The wooden cabin was a cute, homely space, designed with comfy couches and a log burning fireplace to keep the room warm through the cold snowy months. Overall the decor was simple yet effective enough to keep us comfortable through the night.  "This seems nice doesn't it?" Dylan grinned at me, after taking a look around. I just shrugged in agreement. I had never ventured further than the 10 mile radius around my house. The only places I visited were my school, the café, and the park. Now I've traveled hundreds of miles outside my comfort zone on a whim. I know nothing about the man who has spent the last week with me, taking me around the country. I never thought in my nineteen years of my life that I would be able to see what I have in such a short period of time.

"Why don't you relax in front of the fire while I fix us something to eat. I'm sure you're starving after all that snowboarding." He chuckled good-humouredly. I rolled my lips into my mouth and I nodded, dropping my bags to the floor before jumping on to the couch. Sitting near the arm was a basket filled with beautiful blankets. The fabric was soft under my fingers as I wrapped it around my shoulders. I lay back, tuning into the noises around me. The fire crackled happily while Dylan moved around the small kitchen, cooking up a storm with all the banging he was making. Eventually the warmth seeped into my body and I let myself fall into a dreamless sleep.

"Elise, hey I made dinner." My eyelids fluttered open to see Dylan crouching beside me, caressing my cheek. I replied with a unattractive yawn to which he laughed loudly at. "Shuffle up sleepy head, I made soup." I wrinkled my nose with distaste.

"Don't judge till you've tried it. I had to make do with what the cabin owners provided for us, which wasn't much I need to add. Luckily Agnes, the wife, gave us a bread basket so at least we have something to eat it with." He handed me a large bowl of soup. I had to give it to him, the smell was amazing. One mouthful and I was already taken away with the food.

"Did you enjoy today then?" He asked, taking the empty bowl from my hands.

Surprisingly yes. I never thought that snowboarding could be fun. Plus the snow looked beautiful with the sun reflecting off it. It was amazing to see little kids just whizz past, so steady and fearless. And you, well, you were just brilliant gliding across the snow like you did. I've never seen something so graceful in my life. I gushed, scribbling furiously on the page.

"I'm glad you had fun. To be honest I was a bit nervous with this one because so many things could go wrong."

Things could go wrong? My eyes at his admission.

"I did have everything under control then. I wanted to show you something quiet wonderful, you just had to figure it out yourself."

I don't know what I learnt. Why don't you just tell me what you wanted me to see?

"Why don't we get comfortable we have a long night yet?" I just shrugged. "I'll get us some tea." He got up to brew us a pot. I took the opportunity to place my bags in the bedroom and to change into a pair of pyjamas. I took a seat beside the fire. I nodded my thanks as he handed me a cup of my favourite brew.

"Seems like you learnt a lot from what I noticed." He smiled knowingly as he took a seat beside me.

I didn't learn much. I still can't snowboard and I can barely balance on the board.

"Okay, so you can't snowboard for more than five minutes without falling but you still learnt a hell of a lot. You did remarkably well for a first timer. Every time you fell, you get back up. I saw a look on your face."

What look?

"Determined. You looked determined. I can't count how many times you fell down, but you got back every time. Each time you hit the snow, you found it in you to try again. When you finally got to the bottom I saw you looking back up the mountain feeling accomplished. It may have taken you longer than any other amateur on the snow, but you made it down some way. That's what makes me proud of you. You almost gave up on that mountain, I'm glad you didn't. See when you fall you have to get back up no matter what. You may fall down many times before you succeed. When you succeed the journey to get there looks beautiful. What you have achieved makes the struggle worthwhile just because of the joy it brings you." Tears welled up in my eyes, as his words struck a chord in my heart.

"Elise, can you promise me something?"

Depends on what it is.

"Never stop trying to find happiness."