Summit Conquest

The vertical ascent to the summit began from the first carpeted riser. I dug my stubby plush hands into the dense pile, hoisting my weight up step after step. By the sixth riser, my arms were burning, so I halted on the edge, looked back at the drop below, and muttered, 'Half way there.' Refusing to surrender, I pushed forward, scrambling over the polished wooden bullnose of the top step. Standing upright on the wide hardwood landing with the entire lower floor spread beneath me, I planted both feet and announced, 'Challenge complete.' The high territory is conquered.