The doorbell chimed, and a wave of internal resistance washed over Liam. It was his friend, Ben, ready to rehash their infamous attempt at rock climbing. The thought of moving from the couch, where he'd been happily planted for hours, felt like a monumental effort. He sighed, steeling himself for the inevitable.
He opened the door and the sunshine glared at him. He shielded his eyes. "Ready to remember the climb of our lives?" Ben asked, already grinning.
They settled onto the porch. Ben launched into the story of his triumphant ascent. "I was halfway up, and you were just…" He paused, searching for the word. "Amazing, encouraging! You had the perfect strategy!"
Liam's memory, however, was less rosy. He distinctly recalled being terrified, clinging to the ground like a barnacle. "I remember the wind being really strong," he said, his voice flat. He was very certain the wind was brutal, and he was very certain he was petrified.
Ben stared, flabbergasted. “Liam, you barely made it past the first few holds! I was practically pulling you up! You just hung there!"
Liam shrugged, a flicker of a smile touching his lips. It was, indeed, possible his memory was distorted.