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The Wilderness

I felt the tingling sensation of the ice crumbling my feet. The way the snow capped pines glimmer in beauty calm me with ease, yet still…I am lost in the wilderness. Too far from home, yet too close to my death. I’ve feared this moment all my life. A fork in the road leading me to God knows where. I must be at least one hundred-fifty miles from my summer abode. The temperature lowers and so does the blood in my veins. I decide to take the trail home. I fear the unknown if I chose the other direction. Granddaddy told me tales of a trapper just waiting for people to arrive. They didn't settle well in my stomach.

I must prevail on this journey. I must fight my way through this Winter season to find the warmth of my daughter’s arms. Her mother died at childbirth and she is all I have and I am all she has. Together we make the perfect team.

I wander through trees of ice and icicles linger from the branches ready to fall and pierce me. That would just be my luck. I left my ski poles at home so this tread is much harder than I anticipated. About one hundred miles into my journey I hear a loud roar. I have heard there are black bears living here, but never thought they could endure such cold weather conditions. Well, I was wrong. The fear dashes through my bones and as I twist and turn my head trying to figure out which was I should run, there it is. A ten-foot huge black bear staring at me like I was his dinner cuisine! My heart pumped blood so fast and I just stood there. He started to walk towards me. Growing up I heard stories about what you should do if you encounter a bear. I couldn’t remember if you should run or be so still they would pass right by you. I stood still. He approached with anger and his teeth must have been six inches long with sharp razor like edges. That is how close I was! That’s when I decided to run as fast as I could. I tripped a few times because my feet were numb. I ran with all my might and as I trembled with fear and trepidation I saw a light up ahead. I cried tears that froze running down my cheek. There she was, my beautiful daughter. She screamed for me, I screamed for her and I ran into my home and locked the door. Scratches on the door for over an hour. Finally, the black bear left and I was finally safe. Thank God I was able to get out of that disaster. I shall never wander that far into the wilderness again. That day I realized life is too short and I must hold onto my life with caution and stay in the comfort of my daughter’s arms. A cozy fireplace and a hot shower warmed my body and I slept with such an ease I’ve never felt before.

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