for woodwind quintet

Duration: 5’

Through the summer morning mist, a hiker finds a trail. She begins her climb, eagerly awaiting the first break in the trees, hoping that the mist on the ground will linger long enough for her to catch a glimpse of it from above. Every few minutes, she looks back at how far she's come, smiling at how small the sleepy town below looks. Hour pass. She races with the sun, feeling its growing warmth when she reaches a clearing. Finally, she approaches the summit. She takes a deep breath and prepares to see the view for the first time. When she lifts herself onto the last rock ledge, she sees what she's been waiting for all morning. She rests, taking in every detail around her, sitting quietly, breathing deeply, in awe of the beautiful world she lives in. For a moment, she imagines never coming down. In her mind, she builds a life for herself on the mountaintop, waking every morning to that view of the endless valley below her. She breathes in the crisp air one more time before taking her first steps back down to Earth.