My muscles screamed and my head began to pound. We had been walking for 45 minutes, but after the long hike yesterday and this morning as we had packed the SUV, I was beyond my physical limits.“Dan, can we rest?”

He sighed and led us to the shade under a tall oak tree by the side of the road. I took off my shoe and dumped out a rock that had been causing me discomfort for about a mile. Wiping the stray hairs from my eyes I took a look at Dan, expecting to see a mirror of my emotions. He was placidly holding out a bottle of water with the last drink saved for me. It wasn’t enough, but I took it.

He leaned quietly against the trunk, watching me. I sat, one leg bent, still catching my breath.

“What are you feeling?”

The question caught me by surprise. I was cranky, tired, hot and sticky. I was angry at myself for leaving the phones plugged in all night. I was thinking that I had no clean clothes left and wondering if our gear was safe in the locked vehicle. Did he really want to know?