The morning sun plastered itself across Leo's face, urging him from bed. He threw back the covers, a giggle bubbling up as he pictured the day ahead. He practically skipped into the kitchen, humming a tune as he poured himself a glass of orange juice, the zest of the fruit mirroring his inner state. Today was the day he and Maya were finally going to try that rock-climbing wall.
Maya’s text popped up: "Ready to conquer some heights?" Leo grinned, his teeth flashing. He texted back, "Born ready!"
At the climbing gym, Leo practically bounced with excitement. He spotted Maya across the room and waved enthusiastically, his arm a windmill in the air. He remembered the day they'd discussed this, a moment of pure camaraderie. He recalled Maya's initial hesitation, her quiet concern about her ability. But the memory was… different.
"You remember that day, right?" Leo asked, already halfway up the easiest wall, his voice laced with the thrill of the climb. He looked down at Maya, who was carefully chalking her hands.
Maya looked up, a puzzled expression on her face. "The day we talked about this? Yeah… We were both kind of quiet, remember? You were the one who was hesitant, actually. You were worried about the height." Leo stared at her, the sudden weight of the memory, or rather, the lack of it, crushing him. His grip loosened slightly, the solid hold of the wall suddenly feeling unreliable.