A fit of laughter overcomes me, both in surprise and disbelief. But the disbelief comes from a good place - I'm impressed with what I was capable of and in shock that Rees' madness actually proved a point.
His methods may have been questionable, but he was right.
I chuckle some more as I start the descent down the rest of the mountain by myself. Feeling more empowered than before, I take bigger risks. I run down steep declines and jump from rock to rock even though if I was to fall there would be nothing to catch me. It was absolutely freeing.
My reservations aside, it would be immature of me to not appreciate Rees for showing me this. For helping me break through chains I didn't know I had. Chains I bond myself with and let them drag me down.
When I get to the bottom, Rees is leaning casually against a tree with a small grin that affects me in ways I don't understand.
But my breath catches when I see the pride in his eyes.
