John Paul Bramer

That's why I decided to do something out of character.

I snatched the phone right out of his hands, which for us is unprecedented shocking.

And we're staring at each other for a little bit, and in the silence that sometimes falls between two people who know each other a little too well, I think he knew exactly what I was saying.

So I have the phone, and with it I call the rangers, and it rings, and it rings, and it rings.

And I do wonder if my little moment of triumph is going to be squandered, and I am going to die on Situation Ship Mountain.

But then...

The heavens part, a voice on the other side, a ranger.

Are you lost?

A voice so tender and so compassionate, I just want to break down right then and there and say, more than you know.

She really might as well have said, oh baby, you're gay.

So she directs us towards a valley, which will lead to a clearing, which will then take us to the parking lot.

And as we're making our way down the valley, Cory is practically moping behind me about being saved.

I think because he realizes what I realize, which is that we never would have found this way out on our own.

And maybe he's a little embarrassed that I'm walking ahead of him.

So we make it to the clearing.

Through the trees, I can see the parking lot.

And I've never in my whole life been so happy to see a 2009 Honda Civic.

make it to the car, I climb into the driver's seat, thank you very much.

And I am wet, I am scratched, I'm itching, I'm bleeding, but I'm also proud.

The world seemed new and bigger now, like it had a little more room for me than I thought.