It Happened on a Spring Hike

It was on a Spring day when I decide to go hiking, none of my friends were available so I went alone; soon, I found myself on a path deep in the forest, the birds were twittering and the forest was fresh. I heard a rumble and roar from not too far away, it was a wild stream flowing quickly over rocks; holding my camera I started down a small hill, but the hill was wet with thick mud and I slipped. Trying to hold onto anything on the way down, but it was hopeless, I was bumping along- until; I was half in the flowing water of the wild stream, nothing could have prepared me for the force . The water was cold and was pulling further in, I was all alone and had not seen a single person; my whole life started to flash through my mind, and saw my family, friends and all things unsaid What about my cat waiting for me at home, who would take care of her- Oh, I was afraid; I looked around for something to hold onto, but there was nothing, so I prayed to God. Then, I turned my head and saw a tree branch. I pulled and pulled myself from the roaring water; and crawled up the muddy hill until I stood again, I was covered in mud- my camera forever gone. But, I was alive- though I was trembling badly, somehow, I got home and stripped off those clothes; I curled up on my bed in a fetal position crying, and cried and cried for hours then cried some more. " I thanked God for saving me for there had been no branch and then there was . . . " __________________ November 23, 2021 Poetry/Verse/I Happened on a Spring Hike Copyright Protected, ID 11-1409-150-23 All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France Written for the Standard contest, Your Life Flashes Before Your Eyes sponsor, Matt Calari, NA, Judged 12/31/2021