Venture # 2 | Samantha Gay

The amazing red mountains soared into the sky, standing silent and tall. Underneath the giants’ stoic and watchful gaze, a winding canyon road raced along their base. Mirroring the road was a river, babbling and prattling on, oblivious to the world beyond its high riverbanks. Bright green trees and shrubs lined the water bed, creating small but relieving patches of shade from the hot afternoon sun along a pathway made of cement that walked alongside the river. The trail branched out occasionally to create an overlook of the stream. On one such overlook there sat a bench. A normal bench by most standards, but the extraordinary environment added an allure to the bench, giving it a sense of greater purpose. This bench was bright green, a contrast to the red rock landscape surrounding it. It sat on a small hill facing the mountains, providing a beautiful and impressive view. A small tree grew next to it, providing a small portion of shade from the sun. It sat there; as afternoon turned to the coolness of evening, lengthening shadows and nature added crickets to the gentle soothing music of the river. Soon, up the empty pathway, came an old married couple. They walked slowly, swinging their joined hands gently and talking quietly about life and tiredness. They came to the bench and sighed as they sat down, easing the complaints from their tired legs and feet. The old man put his arm around her and the old woman leaned against his shoulder. They gazed at the beautiful and impressive view, the sky as it darkened and the stars as they came out, completely content in each others silent company.