The Price of Forgetting

Chapter 2

With Matthew gone, I was just as bored as I guessed I'd be. I loved staying with Grandmother. It was so much more interesting than staying home. There were lots of other people that lived nearby, and if I went far enough down the road, there was an actual village with shops and everything. I wasn't allowed to go alone though. Matthew wasn't a grown up yet, but Mama and Papa let me go almost wherever I wanted if he was with me. But of course, that wasn't an option right now. There were other children that lived close by, including Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Michael's three, Jesse, Isaac, and Annie, but they were all so much younger than me. Well, except for Jesse, I guess. He was nine, but he seemed so young compared with Matthew.

On the third day without my best friend, I decided to go back to the place he showed me before he left. It was a rock formation that almost looked like a castle. And it was right by a bunch of little waterfalls, making everything look like it was straight from a fairy tale. Matthew and I had gone all sorts of places, but that was the first special place that was just ours. No one else knew it was there. And while I technically wasn't supposed to go that far on my own, it wouldn't be hard. I was always really good with directions, even in the forest. My mind automatically picked up on landmarks and it just seemed simple to remember where I needed to go. It wasn't a difficult hike either. It was mostly over flat ground. The only exception was the creek. You had to jump from stone to stone to get across. It was a little slippery, but there was a spot close to a big rock that had vines hanging down. So as long as you held on tight, it was easy.

The walk seemed longer without Matthew, but before too long, I made it. Being there alone wasn't quite the same, but it was still magical. The sky was cloudless and this particular spot wasn't completely under the cover of the trees, so the waterfalls sparkled brilliantly. I happily looked around at it all for a while, feeling a story coming together in my mind, and I regretted not being able to write it down. Vowing to bring a pencil and paper next time, I decided to explore. Matthew and I poked around a little, but there hadn't been time for too much. Now though, I could stay for hours if I wanted to.

The area was mostly like anywhere else in the woods, but I did find a small knife that looked kind of old as well as what looked like the entrance to a tunnel. I wasn't about to investigate that further since there could be any number of disgusting things living down there in the pitch dark, but Matthew would think it was great.

After slipping the knife in my pocket to give to Matthew when he got back, I wandered over to the part of the rock formation that looked simple enough to climb. Bugs weren't as likely to be on rocks, so after a quick sweep to make sure I wasn't going to touch anything gross, I hiked up my skirt and ascended the rock. Being up on top felt wonderful. Like being on top of the world. I could see really far in all directions, and it was something that Matthew hadn't done yet - he said so. I was proud that I'd be able to show him where to go next time.

Feeling like it was time to start heading back, I looked down to find a safe way to the ground and sensed movement out of the corner of my eye. When I realized the movement had come from an enormous black snake, I screamed. I'd never been particularly afraid of snakes before, but I'd also never encountered one like this. Looking at it now, all slimy and horrible, and much too close for comfort, I decided they were right up there with spiders.

Thankfully my exit was in the opposite direction. Wasting no time, I hastily moved to climb down. It shouldn't have been difficult. The way the rocks lay almost formed steps. But since I was worried about the snake and afraid of finding some of his friends, I wasn't paying attention like I should have. A little more than half way down, I missed the place I meant to put my foot and tumbled to the ground.

It hadn't been very high, but I landed on my arm. Thankfully my head missed the rock that was sticking out, but my arm hurt like nothing I'd felt before. I couldn't even think of trying to straighten it or move my fingers.

Cradling it with my good arm, I stood and started back for the house, trying not to blubber like a baby. For the pain, but also for the amount of trouble I knew I was going to be in when my parents found out how far I'd gone by myself.

But maybe they didn't have to know, I told myself as I picked my way through the forest. I could fall down anywhere, right? But what would I have fallen from? They knew I'd never climb a tree on my own.

I tried desperately to come up with something that sounded logical, but there was nothing. I was usually really careful since I hated to get dirty and I really hated getting hurt. If the rock hadn't looked so easy to climb without touching much, I never would have done it. There was nothing even remotely similar anywhere I was allowed to be on my own. And I was absolutely filthy from landing in the dirt.

I'd just resigned myself to having to tell the truth when I approached the creek and realized how much trouble I was really in. Stopping at the edge of the water, I stared dismally down at the stones I had to cross, knowing I'd never be able to do it. It was much too difficult without holding on, and to be able to hold on while crossing, I'd need two good arms.

I was going to be in so much trouble, I thought as my eyes filled with tears again. Hoping there was some way around, I assessed the area. To the left, the large rocks led to even higher hills, maybe even a mountain. I had no idea how far that went, but it was definitely not an option. Turning, I walked up the creek a ways and stopped when I saw that it widened into a river with no end in sight. By the time I got back to where I needed to cross, it was getting dark. Hearing a distant howl of some animal, I started to feel afraid for more than getting in trouble. I was still miles away from civilization and I'd never been alone in the woods at night. Plus my arm really hurt.

Forgetting my resolve not to cry, I slunk down into the grass and sobbed.

"Matthew, why did you have to be away right now?" I blubbered. He was the only one in the world who might know where I'd gone.

Having nothing else to do, I sat, terrified as darkness fell completely. There were lots of other howls and scary noises. The worst was when I'd hear something rustle nearby. I'd always thought seeing those terrible things was as bad as it could get. Not seeing them was far worse. And to top it all off, I knew there must be bugs all over the place. I tried really hard not to think about it, but I kept feeling a tickling sensation all over. I didn't know if I was imagining it or not, but I reacted each time, and each time, pain shot through my arm. Eventually, I buried my face in my knees and just cried.

I don't know how long I sat there . It felt like days - though logically, I knew it couldn't be, since it was still night - before I felt something touch my shoulder. With a scream, I looked up to see Papa standing over me. Uncle Michael was with him, and the light from the lanterns they held was bright enough to see the relief and disapproval in his eyes.

"Oh Papa!" I scrambled up into his arms, not caring how much trouble I was going to be in. He was here! I wasn't sure he'd even be home today, but miraculously he was and he found me!

"Alright." He rubbed my back. "You're alright." Probably hoping to assure me that I was safe, he squeezed gently, but it put pressure on my arm and I cried out.

Holding me at arms length, he looked at me questioningly.

"I hurt my arm," I explained. "That's why I couldn't get back."

Papa sighed and set the lantern down before examining my arm. Even the light touches hurt. I tried not to make a sound, but I couldn't help it. It was throbbing by now. Absolutely everything hurt.

"Looks like it's broken," he said. "There's nothing to do now, I'm afraid. It's probably going to hurt a lot when we cross the creek."

That wasn't terribly comforting, but at least I'd be able to get home. Biting my lip in an attempt to stop crying, I nodded.

"Michael," Papa said, motioning him over.

Uncle Michael closed the small distance before draping a blanket over me and taking Papa's lantern. In the next moment, I was cradled in Papa's arms as he hopped easily across the creek. He was right. It really hurt, but I felt better. I was safe. No matter how stupid I might be, Papa would always protect me from anything really bad.