The journey down the mountain was very different from the climb up. The search committee met them halfway, and two neighbors took turns helping Mathew carry the boy to ensure they got down safely. As they broke through the treeline, Mathew saw the lights of his home. It looked like a beacon in the dark, warm and welcoming.
Angela was running across the yard before the truck had even come to a full stop. Mathew stepped out and handed Michael directly into her arms. The neighbors stood back, giving the family a moment of privacy, though many of them were wiping tears from their own eyes. The terror that had gripped the mountain was finally breaking.