The Wife's Pain

Belle peered out of the window at the relentless sheets of rain that fell from the sky. The rhythmic drumming on the roof was almost hypnotic. Despite the gloomy weather, she was resolute in her decision to celebrate her birthday on the trails of Wildwood Mountain.

“I can’t believe you still want to go through with this,” Alex said, adjusting the straps of his backpack. His voice held a mix of admiration and incredulity. “We could have just gone for dinner like normal people.”

Belle shot him a playful grin, the kind that always made him relent.

“Come on, Alex. What’s a little rain? We’ve planned this for weeks. Besides, the birds are supposed to be incredible this time of year, and I’ve read that the flowers are at their peak bloom.”

Alex sighed and shook his head, a fond smile tugging at his lips.

“Alright, alright. I guess a birthday hike it is.”

As they set off from their campsite, the air was filled with the earthy scent of damp foliage.

The path to the summit of Wildwood Mountain was narrow and winding, flanked by towering trees whose leaves danced in the wind. The rain had turned the trail into a muddy challenge, but Belle found it exhilarating. Each step squelched beneath her hiking boots, and every gust of wind felt like an embrace from nature itself.

A few paces ahead, her eyes scanning the dense canopy above.

“Look!” she shouted over her shoulder. “I think I see one of those birds!”

Alex quickened her pace to catch up. She could see a flash of brilliant blue feathers darting between the branches. Her heart leaped with excitement.

“Wow, it’s even more beautiful than I imagined!”

Belle was so happy with her arms clinging to Alex that Sabrina could not even enjoy the view.

Perhaps, Alex read her mind. He turned his head, and his gaze softened, as if pleading for some understanding despite her nearly turning green in jealousy.

"His father specifically asked me to make her birthday as memorable as possible, before she returned back to London," she remembered him said.

With one final glance, Alex turned his head back to look at what Belle was pointing at.

The three of them paused, captivated by the sight of the rare bird that flitted gracefully through the trees. Belle felt a profound sense of wonder. This moment, despite the downpour, was perfect in its own way. Her birthday wish was coming true, just as she had hoped.

“See?” she said, nudging Alex gently. “Totally worth it.”

Alex chuckled. “You win this time, birthday girl.”

They continued their trek, the rain showing no signs of letting up. The higher they climbed, the more the trail became a slippery challenge. Sabrina, ever the adventurer, seemed undeterred.

“Keep an eye out for the flowers,” he called back. “They should be around here somewhere.”

Belle’s heart raced with anticipation as they approached a clearing.

There, scattered across the landscape, were the rare mountain blooms she had read about. Their vibrant colors stood in stark contrast to the gray sky, their petals adorned with raindrops that sparkled like diamonds.

“Oh, they’re beautiful!” she exclaimed, kneeling to admire them. She gingerly reached out to touch one of the petals, feeling its delicate texture beneath her fingertips.

She then took out her camera, snapping a few pictures.

“These are going to look amazing,” she said, capturing the moment. “I’m glad we didn’t let a little rain stop us.”

They lingered in the clearing for a while, savoring the sights and sounds of the mountain. The birds, the flowers, the way the world seemed to hold its breath—it was all a gift. Belle felt a profound sense of gratitude for being here, surrounded by nature and good company.

As they started their descent, however, the rain intensified, turning into a torrential downpour. The sky darkened ominously, and the sound of thunder rumbled in the distance. They picked up their pace, eager to return to the safety of their camp before the weather worsened.

“Let’s be careful,” Alex warned, his tone shifting to one of concern. The trail was slick with mud, and every step required caution.

Belle nodded, her earlier excitement replaced by a growing unease. The rain was relentless, and the mountain trail felt more treacherous with each passing moment. She glanced at Sabrina, who seemed to be having no trouble navigating the path. Her confidence was reassuring, but her own worries began to gnaw at her.

The path narrowed as they approached a particularly steep section. It was then that Belle felt the earth beneath her feet shift slightly, a foreboding sensation that sent a chill down her spine. She glanced at Alex, who had also noticed the change.

“Stay close,” he said, reaching for her hand.

Before she could respond, a sudden, deafening roar filled the air. The ground trembled violently, and the hillside began to give way beneath them. Belle's heart lurched in her chest as she realized what was happening—a landslide.

Deja vu.

“Run!” Alex shouted, pulling her along as the earth crumbled around them.

The path ahead disappeared in a chaotic swirl of mud and debris. Behind him, Belle was struggling to maintain her footing. She stumbled, the ground betraying her, and before she could regain her balance, the earth beneath her gave way entirely. In an instant, she was swept down the slope, her cries of alarm lost in the cacophony of the landslide.

“Belle!” Alex screamed, his voice barely audible over the roar of the falling earth.

"Alex! What should we do?"

Alex’s grip on her tightened as he pulled her back, away from the edge. Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to focus on Alex's voice.

“We need to get to safety!” he yelled, leading her to a more stable section of the trail.

The chaos lasted only a few terrifying moments, but it felt like an eternity. When the rumbling finally subsided, they stood breathless and shaken, their hearts pounding in their chests. The path they had traversed just moments before was now a ravaged landscape, and Belle was nowhere to be seen.

“We have to find her."

“We will. But first, we need to make sure we don’t get caught in another slide.”

With cautious steps, they began to navigate the altered terrain, calling out Belle’s name in the hopes of a response. The rain continued its relentless assault, and the mountain seemed more foreboding than ever.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally spotted a glimpse of movement below. Belle was lying on a narrow ledge, partially hidden by a fallen tree. Her clothes were mud-streaked, and he appeared to be unconscious.

“There she is!” Alex gasped in horror as he hurried down the slope toward her.

When they reached Belle’s side, Alex knelt beside her, his heart aching at the sight of her injuries. Her face was pale, a bruise forming on her temple.

“She’s hurt badly,” Alex said, worry etched in his voice. “We need to get her help, fast.”

“Belle, can you hear me?” she asked gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.

A faint groan escaped Belle's lips, a small sign of life that offered them a glimmer of hope. But her eyes remained closed, and her breathing was shallow.

“Okay, we need to stabilize her somehow,” Alex said, glancing around for anything they could use. “We can’t move her too much, but we have to get him back to camp.”

Sabrina’s mind raced, the urgency of the situation pressing down on her. She and Alex worked quickly, using whatever they had in their backpacks to create a makeshift splint. They wrapped her in their rain gear, hoping to keep her warm as the chill of the rain seeped into their bones.

“We’re going to get you out of here,” Alex promised softly.

With painstaking care, they managed to lift Belle onto a stretch of fabric torn from Alex’s rain jacket, turning it into an impromptu stretcher. Each step back down the mountain was a challenge, the path slippery and treacherous, but they pressed on, driven by determination and fear.

The rain showed no signs of abating, and the journey back to camp felt endless. Sabrina and Alex took turns bearing Belle's weight, their muscles aching from the effort. The storm showed no mercy, but their resolve was unyielding.

“We need to call for help,” Alex said urgently, reaching for his phone. But the rain-soaked device remained stubbornly silent, the screen refusing to light up.

“Damn it,” he muttered, frustration etched on his face. “No signal. We’ll have to find another way.”

What happened next came so fast that both Sabrina and Alex could not respond. The landslide was much bigger than before, and it crashed down on them faster than she could blink.

"Alex!"

In that heart-stopping moment, Sabrina reacted without hesitation. She lunged forward and reached out towards him instinctively, her fingers grasping at empty air as she tried to grab Alex’s arm, pulling them back. Her strength and quick thinking saved them, but the momentum carried her dangerously close to the edge.

Alex's eyes widened in horror as Sabrina lost her footing, her body tilting precariously. It happened so quickly—one instant she was there, and the next she was gone, disappearing over the edge in a terrifying blur of motion.