Carry me

The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows over the snowy landscape. The sky above was streaked with hues of orange and pink, the kind of picturesque scene you'd expect to find on a postcard.

It would have been beautiful if I wasn't so mentally drained from the afternoon. Teaching Layla to ski had been… an experience.

She wasn't bad not entirely. Layla had potential. But fear clung to her like a second skin, slowing her down at every step. Not that I could blame her.

For someone new to skiing, especially someone so wary of falling, it could be intimidating. Still, we'd made progress. By the end of the session, she could manage a glide and a basic stop without wobbling too much. Small victories.

Now, we were back at the equipment room, returning our rented gear. Layla stood in front of me, visibly exhausted.