"Hey, guys," I said, pushing tree branches aside.
"Did you have trouble finding us?" Sheelin asked. I shock my head and plopped down on a log. Looking around the group, I saw that Mila had brought Josh and Sheelin brought Ben. They had started a fire so the biting cold was kept at bay.
"Well," Mila said, breaking the ice, "Seeing as how it's midnight and I'm slightly hungry, I brought hotdogs to make, anyone want one?"
"So hungry!" I said and I took one. I found a stick and burned the end before putting the hotdog on to roast. Sheelin took one and did the same thing and, of course, all the guys took one. We chatted idly for about five minutes before Sheelin asked who was going to start.
"Start wha-" I started to ask but quickly realized what it was; our past, our present, and our future. What was said in the circle would dredge up old memories, old feelings, and open up wounds that we thought had healed over.
After a moment of silence, Mila cleared her throat, "I guess I'll start?" I looked over at Sheelin and she seemed glad that she wasn't going first. Snuggling closer to Dan, I felt the little butterflies in my stomach and tried to ignore them by focusing on Mila. She paused so she could gather her thoughts.
"As you all know," she began, "that summer was a life changer; it helped mold us into the people we are today," she broke off and stared into the fire, "I guess I'll start at the beginning?" I nodded and pulled my knees up to my chest, relying on Dan to be my support.
"It was a warm summer's evening, and we were cooking food over a fire. I remember that I had made a s'more, a big one, and it was oozing everywhere... I was trying so hard not to spill anymore on my pants, but... it wouldn't stop. Then I looked up, and you were gone," she said, looking at me. There was sorrow in her blue eyes. I wrapped my arms closer around myself as everyone turned to look at me.
"I panicked," she continued, "I was the last one into the bushes to find you, I kept thinking that you couldn't die, I wouldn't let you die. It would be all my fault because I hadn't listened to the warnings and you would be gone. I couldn't lose you, I refused to let you die, I pleaded with the gods to let you live," tears welled up in her eyes and she was shaking.
"So what did I do? I hid behind a tree. I hid and called for people to come and help. I was so stupid; I should've just ran with the phone, but I was too afraid that I could be taken too. After I called the cops, I ended up punching the tree. While Sheelin was looking for you, I hid and punched a tree until I couldn't feel my hand anymore.
"But then," she smiled bitterly, "I heard a groan, so I followed it, and then I found you. You were lying in the fetal position and you looked so helpless, that I vowed revenge on whoever had done that. I vowed that the moment I found him would be his last.
"Did you have trouble finding us?" Sheelin asked. I shock my head and plopped down on a log. Looking around the group, I saw that Mila had brought Josh and Sheelin brought Ben. They had started a fire so the biting cold was kept at bay.
"Well," Mila said, breaking the ice, "Seeing as how it's midnight and I'm slightly hungry, I brought hotdogs to make, anyone want one?"
"So hungry!" I said and I took one. I found a stick and burned the end before putting the hotdog on to roast. Sheelin took one and did the same thing and, of course, all the guys took one. We chatted idly for about five minutes before Sheelin asked who was going to start.
"Start wha-" I started to ask but quickly realized what it was; our past, our present, and our future. What was said in the circle would dredge up old memories, old feelings, and open up wounds that we thought had healed over.
After a moment of silence, Mila cleared her throat, "I guess I'll start?" I looked over at Sheelin and she seemed glad that she wasn't going first. Snuggling closer to Dan, I felt the little butterflies in my stomach and tried to ignore them by focusing on Mila. She paused so she could gather her thoughts.
"As you all know," she began, "that summer was a life changer; it helped mold us into the people we are today," she broke off and stared into the fire, "I guess I'll start at the beginning?" I nodded and pulled my knees up to my chest, relying on Dan to be my support.
"It was a warm summer's evening, and we were cooking food over a fire. I remember that I had made a s'more, a big one, and it was oozing everywhere... I was trying so hard not to spill anymore on my pants, but... it wouldn't stop. Then I looked up, and you were gone," she said, looking at me. There was sorrow in her blue eyes. I wrapped my arms closer around myself as everyone turned to look at me.
"I panicked," she continued, "I was the last one into the bushes to find you, I kept thinking that you couldn't die, I wouldn't let you die. It would be all my fault because I hadn't listened to the warnings and you would be gone. I couldn't lose you, I refused to let you die, I pleaded with the gods to let you live," tears welled up in her eyes and she was shaking.
"So what did I do? I hid behind a tree. I hid and called for people to come and help. I was so stupid; I should've just ran with the phone, but I was too afraid that I could be taken too. After I called the cops, I ended up punching the tree. While Sheelin was looking for you, I hid and punched a tree until I couldn't feel my hand anymore.
"But then," she smiled bitterly, "I heard a groan, so I followed it, and then I found you. You were lying in the fetal position and you looked so helpless, that I vowed revenge on whoever had done that. I vowed that the moment I found him would be his last.
