The view was breathtaking but the cost to Jill’s body was as steep as the surrounding cliffs.  Her legs were wobbly but her determination to continue the climb could not be daunted. Clutching the rock face while turning around a sharp bend was a bit unnerving.  ‘How strange.’ she mused, ‘At the start of this hike the trail seemed so easy.  What the hell happened to that nice little brook along the side of the trail?  It’s hard but I made it and now I won’t have to hear Clair’s litany of reminders of my physical limitations.’

Jill and Clair had grown up together and were friends since 3rd grade.  But sometimes Clair had a way of really getting under her skin.  When they left the ‘Blue Frog’ last night Jill was still smoldering over Clair’s comment about Jill not having the strength to go on a rock climbing vacation with their friends this summer.  “Bull shit”, she yelled to know one in particular as she climbed up the stairs to her apartment.  She was determined to show them all that she was as capable as any of them. 

Jill was born with a heart murmur and lately the doctors were describing it as the sound of glass breaking.  But she felt fine and was not going to let it hold her back from life.  Just before leaving the bar she announced that tomorrow morning she would climb over ‘Razor Back Ridge’ just for the hell of it. No one took her seriously because Jill was always so sensible and was not known for taking irrational risks.

Although she lived alone, Jill always had a string of boyfriends trying to get her to live with them.  She was popular and considered extremely attractive.  But somehow she always thought of that as an affront to her physical ability.  Deep down she felt that if she maintained her independence her health would not deteriorate. Now, it seemed that she was emotionally unable to form a serious attachment. She was getting distracted by too much male attention. Somehow she had planned a date with two guys for the same night she promised to meet her girl friends at the popular after work hangout. Her hurried excuses sounded lame even to herself.