by Angelia Mahaney

Created on: August 18, 2008

I woke abruptly, and swept my hand across the ground, feeling freshly wet grass beneath my pale fingers. I took in a swift breath and smelled sweet dew, and the deep scent of pine needles. I opened my eyes to see a bright light shining directly in my eyes, so I waited for them to adjust to the sudden brightness, and began to make out silhouettes of trees. A wave of panic swept through me, as I realized I had no idea where I was, or how I got wherever I was. I stood up in a few hardly graceful motions and my knees buckled under me, resulting in my kneecaps being plunged into the moist earth. "Dammit." I stood up once again, slightly more graceful than the first time. I looked to my right; I saw an endless bound of trees, and grass. I looked to my left; I saw trees, trees and more trees. Oh yes, and of course, grass. What the hell? I thought. I tried to remember something anything. I racked my brain for an answer for this diluted mess I had brought upon myself. Nothing. I looked down at myself, and what I saw was bare skin. Where were my clothes? Was this some kind of practical joke? Well whoever brought this sort of panic, worry and distress into my life was not funny. Not funny, at all. I balled my fists, tilted my head back and screamed at the top of my lungs, screamed so loud my voice cracked. I fell back on the grass and sighed, "Did anybody hear that?" I said softly, with a dry voice. "No," I answered myself. I had completely given up by that time. I lay on the ground, listening to my stomach making its constant request to be given food.

As abruptly as I had woken up, I was in a different place altogether. My heart stopped for a moment, and then raced. It was so loud I was sure that someone would hear. I dug my fingers into the burning sand and looked up to see the ocean waves crashing against the beach. I turned around to find I was on a round island, about 10 feet in diameter. And once again, I panicked. At least in the forest there might be a stream and food and shelter. Tears streamed down my cheeks, my sunburned cheeks I realized. I strode up to the crashing waves and dipped my toes into the cooling salt water. I closed my eyes, pretending I was a little girl again, carefree and worriless. And I smiled, in what I felt was the first time in my whole life. It hurt my sunburn, but I didn't care, I was in paradise.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and opened my eyes. I saw a young man with his lips inches away from mine. "Are you ready?" he breathed, with his soft brown eyes reflecting my horrified face

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