THE SECRET

He carefully lifted the glass jar from his shoulder placing it with great care next to him. He was so tired from climbing this mountain and needed to rest for a while. The strap he made to sling the jar over his back, left deep cuts in his shoulders. The jar is just to heavy he thought, but he would never leave it behind, never.

He was still only a small kid when he received the jar. It was given to him with the first secret that he had to keep. "Promise you won't tell, promise!" His father added the most of the contents that is currently in the jar, for he was a man of great secrets. He himself added quite a few, and with all the secrets came all the lies to protect the secrets. As the years passed the jar became fuller and the contents heavier.

The jar made entirely from glass had a silver handle, making it easier to carry around. His name was engraved on a silver plate surrounded by the most amazing bead work embedded on the outside. A snake surrounding his name tag  was the main feature winding himself around the jar. A lady eating a fruit was on the opposite side of the jar, surrounded by the snake's tail.  The lid was tightly sealed but unlock able, he once tried to lock it, but failed. On top of the lid was a symbol in bead work. A symbol that he never understood.

He could not rest for long and knew that he had to finish, he had to reach the summit. From where he sat he saw the sun set. The orange and red was glowing like a ball of fire whilst the clouds was the most amazing purple pinkish color. He looked up and saw that the cliffs became steeper, not much cracks or points where you can hold onto or pull yourself up against. He knew that he would not make the stretch in the dark and the sun was setting fast. He scanned the area and saw a cave in the mountain to his right side just big enough to crawl in. I just have to reach it he thought.

He just sat in the small cave drinking in the last of the sunset. The wind swept up and a storm broke loose. He endured so many storms whilst climbing. He did not care much for he had his shelter. The mountain his obstacle but also protecting him for now. He fell into the deepest sleep and dreamt of the ocean and his lover standing on the beach awaiting his return. His dream turned into a nightmare his fears fogging her existence, his jealousy a giant wave sweeping her from her feet. His anger a giant current pulling her into a whirlpool where she disappeared.

Still tired at the break of dawn he continued his quest to the summit. It was almost impossible to reach over the steep cliffs. He did not have ropes, nor hooks or shackles. His hands and feet constantly bled as the rocks cut them open. He did not dare look down for he was already meters and meters above sea level. It was so high that he was mostly surrounded by mist and he had to face all the elements in his quest.

He reached out to pull himself up when his foot slipped. The glass jar swung from his back and was pulling him from balance when it crashed into a sharp end in one of the rocks. The jar broke into thousand pieces falling silently. He thought his life ended, his secrets was in the open, falling around for all to see. The wind swept up the glass pieces and loose beads and all the secrets now created a tornado encircling the mountain. He clasped to the rocks pushing his body as close to the mountain as possible, avoiding not to be sucked in.

The storm passed. The sun shone brightly, the sky was clear and the weight he carried was gone. He wanted to continue but all of a sudden felt that he had wings. He left his grip and softly fell into a wind current. He tried to establish where the summit was but could not find the top of the mountain. In his flight he saw them. They were carrying glass jars, climbing the never ending mountain. He wanted to warn them, to tell them but the wind swept him away.

She was standing on the beach awaiting his return and he could not believe. There was no hate, no jealousy, no anger left. He swept her up in his flight and they embraced.