Lena lived on the south side of the mountain, where it was sunny and warm and the farms grew fruit.
Kofi lived on the north side, where it was cooler, where the forests were dense and the farms grew root vegetables.
They met at the mountain pass on a school trip and were assigned as trail partners.
"I've never been to the south side," said Kofi.
"I've never been to the north," said Lena.
They compared notes as they walked. His side: mossy and quiet, mushrooms everywhere, fog in the mornings. Her side: bright and breezy, orchards, warm evenings.
"That sounds incredible," said Lena.
"Your side sounds incredible," said Kofi.
"We go to different schools," said Lena, "and different markets. We probably never would have met."
"We live three kilometres apart," said Kofi.
They stood at the summit, looking down at both sides — the green orchards on one slope, the dark forest on the other.
"Same mountain," said Lena.
"Same mountain," said Kofi.
They exchanged phone numbers at the bottom.
The following Saturday, he showed her the north side. The Saturday after, she showed him the south.
The mountain, it turned out, was much larger when you knew both halves.