Adna stood on the lowest part of the climbing wall and already wanted to descend. The height bothered her less than the voice from the bench continually telling her where to move a foot. It belonged to Nedim, a new group member who finished his first attempt five minutes earlier and now sounded like a seasoned expert. The instructor asked him to leave instructions to her. Adna thanked her with a look she didn't hide.
After class, Nedim approached to apologize. He said nerves made him talk too much. Adna replied that it showed. She didn't soften it with a joke, but accepted his apology. Both were beginners, she after years at a computer, he after deciding not to spend every evening before the television. They agreed to cheer next time only if the other requested it.
The following week, Nedim stayed so carefully silent that Adna began laughing halfway up. She asked whether he had at least one encouraging word. He said he had several but was waiting for permission. Their joke stayed within the group, but the relationship grew after training, while they sat with tired arms eating sandwiches nobody could hold elegantly. Adna learned that Nedim tended a bonsai. He learned she collected old postcards from places she had never visited.
He invited her to an exhibition of mountain photographs, which seemed too connected with climbing. She said she preferred an ordinary dinner. Nedim agreed, relieved he needn't invent a serious interest in every rock. At the table, they discussed family and former relationships. Adna noticed he now asked before giving advice. He hadn't stopped being talkative, but began noticing when she hadn't finished.
Their first kiss happened outside her building after an awkward discussion of who should message first. Adna said she was tired of rules neither had chosen. Nedim replied that he wanted to stay another five minutes, then. He stayed twenty. The next day, he sent a photograph of his bonsai without explaining why it was supposedly interesting. She answered with a mountain postcard unrelated to their training.
At the course's end, Adna completed the route she abandoned on the first day. Nedim applauded only after she descended. He asked how it felt instead of explaining where she could improve. She said she wanted cake. They went to a café still wearing sports clothes and ordered different slices. She offered him a bite of hers, and this time he didn't ask whether she needed help finishing it.