Page 61 of Falling Slowly
I sighed. “And mine died a while ago.”
“Your battery life is terrible.”
“I’m aware.” My iPhone was so old most apps didn’t work and the top corner of the touch screen was dead so I had to constantly rotate it to do anything. “So, what do we do? It’s getting dark. Do we go back?”
He glanced over his shoulder, biting his lip. “I guess.”
We turned around and walked for a while.
“We must have gone off course when we went down the hill to see the elk,” I said. “Let’s go back there and try again.”
But when we got to the area where we’d emerged from the forest and onto the path, my plan began to fall apart. We were rapidly losing the last of the evening light, and going back into the woods would have meant diving into darkness.
“You still have that phallic flashlight?”
His mouth twisted. “You gave me so much shit I left it behind. Besides, we were supposed to be back before dark. But my phone has a light.”
He switched it on and pointed the light at his feet, making them look vaguely highlighted.
“Well, it’s brighter than your average firefly,” I said, swallowing my disappointment.
“Stay right behind me, okay? Hold on to my jacket.” He took a step into the forest, but I grabbed his jacket.
“Charlie, wait.”
He returned to the path, turning to face me.
My stomach churned. “I don’t feel great about going in there. It’s too dark. There’s a bull elk with a whole harem. But I don’t know what else we can do.” Panic was starting to vibrate through me, tightening every muscle.
“Well… We can spend the night.”
“What?”
“We can follow this path up to find a good campsite, make a fire, eat something…”
“And what? Lay down on a bed of leaves?”
Even in the low light, I could tell his smile was somewhat sheepish. “Or in the hammock.”
“You brought the hammock?”
“Just in case.”
“What were you thinking would happen?”
“Well, this.”
“Is that why you wanted to go see the elk?” My voice rose along with the tsunami of anger inside me. “Did you plan for us to get lost so we could try out your stupid camping gear?”
“No! I also packed a small first aid kit, but I wasn’t planning on cutting myself so I can put on a Band-Aid.” He raised his voice to match my volume, without the anger.
He was helping me hold onto my anger, to push the fear aside. I could feel my limbs flooding with energy. “Well, I’m glad you brought it, so I’ll have somewhere to sleep in while you stoke the fire and keep watch.” My voice cracked, but I held my head high, jutting my chin forward.
“Absolutely. I’ll keep watch all night.”
It was officially dark now, and so cold my thighs were starting to feel numb under the thermal leggings. I was grateful for the two layers of wool under my windbreaker, but cold air was trying to get in through the cracks from every direction. Along with fear. “How are we even going to make a fire?”
“By introducing flame to something flammable.” He pulled a lighter out of his pocket and waved it around.
