hiking.

"hiking is the greatest addiction. i wish my wife enjoyed hiking too, but she doesn't." he paused, and looked at me. i didn't quite know how to respond to the low regret in his voice, or the way he shifted his gaze to the ground. like he was afraid they were telling me too much. "it's a shame. hiking is wonderful."

i let out a chuckle through my nose, as if i were trying to exhale away settling dust in front of my face. "yeah," i muttered softly, and watched the dust ride on my breath.