of the way home. When we pulled into the driveway, Mom turned to me. "Okay, you can go unless the weather is bad, but you have to call every few hours to check in. And you definitely have to be back before dark."
I grinned. "Thanks, Mom. I promise to call and I'll be back before dark."
I ran to my room, making sure to plug my phone in the charger and pack all the essentials in my bag. Mom came in and handed me a flashlight. "Take this just in case."
"Oh, thanks. I didn't think about a flashlight."
"Well, if you have it, you won't need it," she joked. "You better get some sleep if you want an early start. It's already past midnight."
"I'm almost finished. Good night. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, honey." She kissed me on the forehead.
* * *
To my amazement, I awoke to the sun shining in a clear blue sky. I threw my clothes on. With the unpredictable weather I wanted to be prepared, so I decided to wear my favorite yoga pants, a tank top, T-shirt, and hoodie just in case the weather took a dive.
With my backpack and iPod in hand I sprinted down the stairs, but stopped halfway to run back and get my cell phone. Don't want to forget this.
Mom sat at the kitchen table and smiled when I entered. She handed me a plastic bag with a sandwich, apple, banana and energy bars. She had another bag with three frozen waters.
"Mom, what would I do without you?"
"I don't want you to get hungry."
"I appreciate it." I gave her a quick hug.
"Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise. I've got everything I need, including a book and small blanket. I have my cell phone on vibrate. Call me anytime."
"Don't worry, I plan on it."
I ate a few pieces of toast and had a glass of milk before heading out the door. "I'll call in a few hours." I leaned down to kiss her. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Oh, when Dad calls, tell him hello and I love him. I'll e-mail him when I get back tonight."
"Okay," she waved.
I'm free. I ran up the mountain hoping I could find that small, secluded meadow. I figured if I concentrated on that, it would keep my mind off the drama with Lucas.
A light breeze lifted my hair and I inhaled the fresh morning. Running to upbeat and energizing dance tunes seemed to get me up the mountain faster. The treetops swayed in the wind, dancing along with the music in my ears. The mountain beckoned to me, drawing me into its magic. Getting an early start had been a great idea. I was completely and blissfully alone.
I figured I would start at the overlook I'd found a few days earlier. It had the best view of the valley. Also, landmarks would be easier to find.
I made it to the overlook and retrieved my map and pen. I marked the tiny meadow on my map. My Dad had taught me how to read a map when I was ten. We'd lived in Colorado at the time and hiked during the summer.
Climbing on top of a boulder, I painstakingly mapped out my course. I marked every unique object: tall trees, discolored trees, curves on the road, sawmill in the distance. By the time I was done, my map looked like one you would see at a theme park or zoo. I even went so far as to write, "You Are Here," on it.
I took off my hoodie and wrapped it around my waist and started toward my goal. Initially, I wanted to run, but decided walking would be wiser. That way, I could count the many curves, bends, and twists in the road I'd marked on the map. The last thing I wanted was to bypass the area I thought would bring me closest to the meadow.
I stopped and looked at my directions when I rounded what I thought was the last bend. I was almost down the entire mountain. I knew the clearing was near the river, east of this curve.
Before I entered the wood line, I placed my map and iPod in my backpack, grabbed the neon pink chalk, and put my hoodie on. Glancing to make sure no one was around, I stepped off the road and into the forest.
One by one, I marked the trees with a two-inch bright pink 'X' at eye level. It was time consuming, but I
I grinned. "Thanks, Mom. I promise to call and I'll be back before dark."
I ran to my room, making sure to plug my phone in the charger and pack all the essentials in my bag. Mom came in and handed me a flashlight. "Take this just in case."
"Oh, thanks. I didn't think about a flashlight."
"Well, if you have it, you won't need it," she joked. "You better get some sleep if you want an early start. It's already past midnight."
"I'm almost finished. Good night. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, honey." She kissed me on the forehead.
* * *
To my amazement, I awoke to the sun shining in a clear blue sky. I threw my clothes on. With the unpredictable weather I wanted to be prepared, so I decided to wear my favorite yoga pants, a tank top, T-shirt, and hoodie just in case the weather took a dive.
With my backpack and iPod in hand I sprinted down the stairs, but stopped halfway to run back and get my cell phone. Don't want to forget this.
Mom sat at the kitchen table and smiled when I entered. She handed me a plastic bag with a sandwich, apple, banana and energy bars. She had another bag with three frozen waters.
"Mom, what would I do without you?"
"I don't want you to get hungry."
"I appreciate it." I gave her a quick hug.
"Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise. I've got everything I need, including a book and small blanket. I have my cell phone on vibrate. Call me anytime."
"Don't worry, I plan on it."
I ate a few pieces of toast and had a glass of milk before heading out the door. "I'll call in a few hours." I leaned down to kiss her. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Oh, when Dad calls, tell him hello and I love him. I'll e-mail him when I get back tonight."
"Okay," she waved.
I'm free. I ran up the mountain hoping I could find that small, secluded meadow. I figured if I concentrated on that, it would keep my mind off the drama with Lucas.
A light breeze lifted my hair and I inhaled the fresh morning. Running to upbeat and energizing dance tunes seemed to get me up the mountain faster. The treetops swayed in the wind, dancing along with the music in my ears. The mountain beckoned to me, drawing me into its magic. Getting an early start had been a great idea. I was completely and blissfully alone.
I figured I would start at the overlook I'd found a few days earlier. It had the best view of the valley. Also, landmarks would be easier to find.
I made it to the overlook and retrieved my map and pen. I marked the tiny meadow on my map. My Dad had taught me how to read a map when I was ten. We'd lived in Colorado at the time and hiked during the summer.
Climbing on top of a boulder, I painstakingly mapped out my course. I marked every unique object: tall trees, discolored trees, curves on the road, sawmill in the distance. By the time I was done, my map looked like one you would see at a theme park or zoo. I even went so far as to write, "You Are Here," on it.
I took off my hoodie and wrapped it around my waist and started toward my goal. Initially, I wanted to run, but decided walking would be wiser. That way, I could count the many curves, bends, and twists in the road I'd marked on the map. The last thing I wanted was to bypass the area I thought would bring me closest to the meadow.
I stopped and looked at my directions when I rounded what I thought was the last bend. I was almost down the entire mountain. I knew the clearing was near the river, east of this curve.
Before I entered the wood line, I placed my map and iPod in my backpack, grabbed the neon pink chalk, and put my hoodie on. Glancing to make sure no one was around, I stepped off the road and into the forest.
One by one, I marked the trees with a two-inch bright pink 'X' at eye level. It was time consuming, but I
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