As the sun began to set, I feel scared as I wandered through the forest, my arms started burning with firewood. What started as a simple task during our camping trip had turned into a disorienting maze of trees and underbrush. I had gone farther than I expect, and the forest was a tangle of shadows and scary shapes. My friends were back at camp, probably waiting for the firewood to start a warm fire. But here I was, alone, lost, and in darkness
I dropped the firewood I had took a deep breath, trying to calm my heart. I knew that panicking wouldn’t help, but it was hard to stay calm when every direction seemed the same. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the sound of leaves and the scary call of an owl breaking the silence. I took out my phone, hoping to use its GPS to find my way back, but there was no signal
I decided to follow the sounds of the water, hoping it would lead me to a stream or river where I might find a trail or some sign of human activity. I walked carefully, using my flashlight to avoid to smashing to roots of trees or stepping into holes. The night was cold, and I was grateful for my Nike jacket that keeps me calm every second I had brought. But as the hours passed, the cold began to seep into my bones, and I knew I needed to find some form of shelter.
After what felt like hours of wandering, I stumbled upon a small clearing with some rocks. It wasn’t much, but it offered some protection from the wind. I used the firewood I had collected to create a small fire, using a lighter I always kept in my pocket. The flames made me warm and be a comforting glow in the darkness. I huddled close to the fire, wrapping myself in a blanket I had tucked into my backpack I kept the fire going, using it to cook a few snacks I had brought along and to keep myself warm since the night. Along that night I heard distant voices calling my name. I realized that my friends had come looking for me. I followed the voices, and soon enough, I was back in the familiar habitat of my friends, who were overjoyed to see me.
The night I spent in the forest was a challenging experience, but it also taught me the importance of staying calm. THANKS FOR READING