When my dazed eyes slid open I was choking, trying to see something other than the fuzzy view of the treetops, occasional pieces of bright blue peeking through the many shades of green. My mouth was full, gritty water spilling from it, splashing against my soaked beater, which was now clinging to my skin even more than before. Weakly shifting some of my weight onto my right elbow, I rolled over, letting the rest of the water pour from my mouth. Gratefully taking in huge gasps of air, my ruddy fingers dug some into the grass that was on the muddy bank I was lying on. Once I’d caught my breath, I slowly lifted my eyes, looking around. I was alone, it seemed. Sitting up, I frowned, trying to see someone around. I was no where near my log, no where near my happy little trail in the woods. Lying beside me, strangely, were my fishing pole and bait. Miraculously, Rick’s duct tape had held well, and all of my worms were still squirming happily in their dirt. A bit water logged, I bet, but alive at least. “...Hello?” I called warily, slowly getting to my feet. My vision swam for a few moments, but I soon found myself able to see again, my breathing slow. Stories of girls that went off alone into the woods and never returned were rushing into my mind, my muck-covered fingers tugging some at the bottoms of my shorts. “...Hello!?” I called now, sounding a bit more desperate. I was scared, my eyes darting around quickly. I was only seventeen, after all, and I had no clue where I was. All that I knew was that I was trapped at the bottom of a deep ravine, a river rushing beside me. I examined the river then, my eyes desperate to know who had saved me. The river could have carried me this far, I knew, but there was no way it had carried my fishing pole and bait up the bank gently enough so that the tape didn’t snap. That could only mean that someone had taken the time to dive into that fearsome white water and save my life. Questions began to flood my mind, like the water that had earlier flooded my lungs. Who had saved me? My thoughts were always completely rational, so there was no way I was going to believe that a miracle had occurred in this place, which now seemed extremely gloomy. Miracles didn't have time for me. I frowned deeply as my shimmering eyes scanned the soft rapids. And if someone did save me... Well, why were they hiding? I knew if I had saved someone from a watery grave, I wouldn't be running off as soon as they were to safety. Hell, I'd probably wait around to receive the person's undying gratitude. Okay, well maybe not undying. If you stumble upon a person that falls into ravines, you can't really ask for them to last too long. I stopped myself, realizing I was turning in fast circles, trying to catch a glimpse of something, anything. Dizziness blurred my thoughts, and I had to sit down for a few moments. Once I regained the ability to stand, I reached down and grabbed my pole. Today I wouldn't be able to hang out by the water with my fishing pole and an empty container of dirt, the worms all gone. No, my mother would go nuts if she found out I'd fallen into a river, nearly died, and then didn't get home to tell her. Now she didn't have to think u something to gossip about tomorrow, at least. She could tell all her customers about how her child had nearly drowned. I growled to myself, picturing my mother in her salon, idly snapping her gum, a shampoo bottle held loosely in her hand as she laughed with an old woman about how foolish teenagers were. I crinkled my nose in disgust, beginning to walk in the opposite direction of the water flow. Sure, I had no idea where I was, but I was going to have to find my way out somehow. Trying not to think too much about current events, lest I frighten myself, I quietly began to hum to myself a soft tune, my steps as slow and casual as I could manage. Before I knew it, my thoughts were cleansed, my steps matching the rhythm to my soft melody, my hum growing louder and more confident. In what had seemed like no time at all, I had found the site of my fall. Eyes widening some, I examined the gaping, rotted-out hole in the log from afar. I really hadn't realized how nasty a fall I had taken, and how lucky I was that I hadn't hit one of the many smooth boulders breaking up the constant flow of water. For the first time since I was a little girl kneeling at my bedside, I slowly bowed my head and recited the Lord's Prayer. Truthfully, I wasn't even sure I believed in Him. And if He was real, I wanted nothing to do with a god that believed in war, tyranny, and violence. Not giving a quick, "Thanks for not making me split my head open on a rock" was just downright disrespectful, though. Sighing deeply, I continued my walk, my legs taking my swiftly towards the rock closest to my bank. I eyed it warily, not completely comfortable with stepping out onto the slick surface so soon after my close all, especially considering the fact that my legs were so tired they felt like jelly. I must have been out for a while before I started my long walk, too, because the sky was already lightly darkened. The rocks were the only way across the river that I could see, and I needed to get home, so I got on my knees, putting down my fishing pole. It didn't take long to pull away the tape, the adhesive weakened by the water, and I soon found myself pulling away the top of the Styrofoam box. I dumped the dirt onto the ground, careful to keep my distance, and I watched at least fifty earthworms wiggle their way into the dry ground. A bit disgusted at the sight, I picked up my fishing pole and retreated to the rocks once more. Taking a deep breath, I stretched out one leg, trying to reach the rock. The scuffed toe of my boot just barely reached, but it was better than nothing. I inhaled deeply and held my breath, hoping the all powerful forces of gravity wouldn't pull me down, and I quickly shifted my weight, pulling over my other foot. At first I slid, but the grips on my Timberlands soon found purchase. I sighed with relief, quickly repeating the same steps until I was on the next rock, and then the next. Not long later at all, I was practically throwing my weight onto the lightly damp bank. Long breaths of air I accepted gratefully, light-headed from holding my breath for so long. My hair clung to my face as I lay there, shaking some. There was no sunlight left the bounce off of the copping strands, so they appeared black instead of red. I let my head fall down upon my hands in exhaustion, my mud-caked fingers feeling freezing against my hot face. I was coming down with a fever, and that wasn't good. The heat was torturous enough. I didn't need to be lying in bed with a high temperature as well. I slowly dragged my way over to the steep incline that was the wall of the ravine. "Come on, you've got this" I said to myself, though I really didn't believe I could make it all the way up. I forced myself as far as I could go, though, mud and dirt clinging to my bare, damp skin. About half an hour and a world of pain later, I crawled up onto the safety of solid ground, my hands cracked and bleeding from the rocky climb, my long nails broken and split. I crawled on my hands and knees out of the woods as lightening ripped across the sky, and as the thunder boomed, I swore I could hear guitar strings plucking away at the melody I'd earlier been humming.