English ISA ll: Story

The Hicker With Heavy Pack

Leo was the kind of hiker who carried extra water for everyone else. If a friend got tired, Leo would carry their backpack, too.He told himself, "If I carry their load now, surely they will carry mine when I get tired."

One day, on a steep mountain trail, Leo twisted his ankle. He fell to the ground, wincing in pain. He looked up at the friends whose bags he had carried for miles, expecting a hand to pull him up.
Instead, they looked at their watches."We really need to make it to the summit before dark," one said."Catch up when you can," said another.And they kept walking.

Leo sat in the dirt, waiting. He waited for an hour, thinking they would turn around. The sun began to set, and the air got cold. That's when he realized: They were never hiking with him; he was just their Sherpa.Painfully, Leo stood up. He didn't call out to them. instead, he did something important:He took the extra water bottles out of his bag and left them there. He realized he was carrying 50 pounds of supplies for people who wouldn't carry an ounce of compassion for him.

He walked the rest of the trail alone. His ankle hurt, but his back felt incredibly light.When he finally reached the top, he didn't look for his old friends. He sat on a rock, watched the stars, and smiled. He realized that walking alone was far better than walking with people who made him feel lonely.He had stopped waiting for a rescue team and decided to be his own guide.