Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Once I finish with my personal tour of the room, I sit down on the couch and take in my travel companions. Even after a long flight, Mark and John still look gorgeous. It’s unfair. I probably look ridiculous. My hair is definitely in a knot, and I can’t wait to shower off the traveling.
Something else occurs to me. I knew we’d be in the same hotel, but I didn’t think the guys would want us all in one suite.
“Won’t it be obvious if we’re all sharing a suite?” I ask. There are other NYU professors coming to this conference, so we have to be extra cautious.
“That’s why I booked us in a place so far from the main conference center. We should be safe here. Plus, the scenery here is much nicer.”
“I love it! Thank you so much for inviting me.”
John grins. “Thank you for coming. What do you guys say we take a little hike around the hotel? There’s a nice trail right outside that we can walk on.”
“I’d love to!”
We change into the hiking clothes that John insisted we bring along with us in our carry-ons. I’m glad he did because I can’t wait to see what Alaska has to offer. I pull on black workout pants and a long-sleeved shirt. I grab a sweatshirt as well, but I don’t think I’ll need it. It may be cold outside, but we’ll be walking, so I’ll probably get hot.
“You ready?” John asks when I emerge from the second bedroom. He and Mark changed in the other. It’s probably a good idea for us to make it look like we’re all sleeping separately, though I doubt that will actually be the case.
“I am. Let’s go!”
We find the start of the trail easily.
“What is the difficulty level here? I’m not exactly in great shape like the two of you.”
Mark chuckles. “Don’t worry. This one is just a nice walk, basically. Though we’ll start to go on harder hikes by the end of this trip.”
“I’m up for a challenge. Just maybe not after a five-hour flight.”
“That’s understandable. This one will be easy, I promise.”
“I believe you.”
We walk down the well-marked trail.
“It’s beautiful out here,” I remark. John and Mark nod in agreement. Birds chirp around us as the leaves rustle in the wind. It’s the perfect afternoon for a walk.
There’s a gurgling sound up ahead.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Sounds like a stream. Let’s check it out.”
We leave the trail to follow the sound. Mark is right -- it is a stream, and there’s a bear standing on the other shore!
My heart races. “We need to leave!” I whisper frantically.
John squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t worry; we’re safe. She’s hunting.”
I look over at the bear again. Sure enough, she’s reaching out to catch the salmon jumping from the stream. I’ve never seen this in real life before. I watched a documentary about bears once, but that was nothing compared to the real thing.
“Oh my God! That’s so cool.”
“You won’t see that in New York City.”
“Definitely not.”
My heart is still pounding in my chest, but the bear isn’t paying us any attention. I suppose it’s true what they say. If you leave nature alone, it’ll leave you alone. As long as she doesn’t have babies nearby to defend.
I look around us. Tall pine trees grow majestically from the forest floor. The sky is clear and a shade of blue I’ve never seen before. Is this what the real world looks like? I’ve always known I lived a sheltered life in New York, but it didn’t really hit home until now just how sheltered I’ve been. There are people who see scenes like this every day.
A large bird flies overhead. I squint to try and identify it. It has a dark body and what looks like a white head.
“An eagle!” I cry out, pointing to the creature. Mark and John look up just in time to see it land in its nest.
This is real nature. It’s not some manmade block of land in the middle of a city. It’s the true outdoors, and I’m in love. I never want to leave.
I used to think I was a city girl. I grew up there, and I thought I’d live there my entire life. Now that I’ve seen something else, I’m not sure I can stay in New York.
My parents would be devastated if I left. They grew up in New York, too, but they belong there. My dad would be bored out of his mind in a place like this. Mom would be too afraid to leave the house. She definitely wouldn’t stand just across a stream from a bear.
But I’m not like them. Despite my upbringing, I’ve always been drawn to nature. Being here only solidifies my love for the outdoors. I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am right now.