Stefcia stood at the bottom of the slope, clutching her ski poles tightly. Her heart thumped with a mix of excitement and fear. The other children were already gliding down the hill with ease, their laughter echoing in the chilly air. But Stefcia hesitated, unsure if she could muster the courage to follow them. Beside her, Puszek, her loyal golden retriever, wagged his tail, his eyes full of encouragement.
"I don't know if I can do it, Puszek," she whispered, glancing nervously at the slope.
Puszek barked happily, nudging Stefcia with his nose as if to say, "You can do it!" His enthusiasm was contagious, and Stefcia couldn't help but smile. She took a deep breath, feeling the cold air fill her lungs, and decided to give it a try.
"Okay, let's do this together," she said, her voice a mixture of determination and trepidation.
Stefcia reached the top of the hill, feeling a mixture of anticipation and fear. Puszek trotted beside her, his eyes bright with excitement. She positioned herself at the edge, her skis pointing downhill.
"Here goes nothing," she murmured, pushing off gently. The world rushed by in a blur of white, and for a moment, her heart soared with the thrill of the descent.
Stefcia found herself sprawled in the snow, giggling at her clumsy fall. Puszek was there instantly, his warm tongue on her cheek, as if to say, "It's okay to fall."
"Thanks, Puszek," she said, sitting up and brushing the snow from her clothes. "Let's try again."
Stefcia took a deep breath, her fears melting away like snowflakes on warm skin. This time, she felt ready. She pushed off again, keeping her balance steady, and glided down the hill. Puszek ran alongside her, his joyous barks echoing her triumph.
"I'm doing it, Puszek! I'm really doing it!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing with exhilaration.
Stefcia skidded to a stop at the foot of the slope, her cheeks flushed with happiness. Puszek bounded around her, his tail wagging furiously. She knelt in the snow, wrapping her arms around him.
"We did it, Puszek! We really did it!" she laughed, her heart full of gratitude for her faithful companion. Together, they looked up at the stars, feeling the warmth of their friendship against the chill of the winter night.
