The last thing I heard before the darkness engulfed me was my name being screamed and sirens going off...

Roarrrr! I wake up in shock looking for any signs of danger when I hear a scream pierce through the air. Outside the cold night air is sending chills down my spine. Looking left and right for any indication of what is going on, I spot a tall, dark figure towering over a petite body near the dimly lit bathroom. One step after the other, I draw closer to the two bodies. I squint my eyes so that I can make out who or what they are; when I see a six foot bear shadowing over my friend.

Panic is starting to take over my emotions; just a few hours ago I got into a fight with her and now I might lose her completely. Recalling the park ranger’s advice, I grab a wooden stick and start banging on the barbecue grill; that got the bear to divert its attention from my friend in search of the source of noise. It then suddenly changes direction and starts trudging towards me; I just stand there in a state of fright unable to move until I am shaken out of it by another roar that is directed to me. I run and run and run until I am out of breath but sadly my legs didn’t take me very far; the bear is still on my tail. I am scared, frightened to say the least. I turn around to see my friend standing there signaling for me to keep calm and that she is going to call for help.

Turning around I race through the maze of redwood trees trying to lose the bear, but it is to no avail. The bear is still behind me. I find a tiny opening in one of the trees and decide to hide in there until the danger is cleared. A few moments later I spot a huge snake hissing and heading in my direction. I let out a shrilly scream and run out, coming face to face with my previous predator, standing there with a smirk on his face as if to say, “Ha I finally got you.” I start retreating to some unknown place while he just stands there eyeing me. I need a plan; so I fall backwards trying to play dead, but end up hitting my head on a cut tree trunk.

My vision starts to blur, but I am determined to get away from the beast, so I shake my head trying to clear my sight. The bear is now closer, looking more fierce and angrier. While he takes gigantic steps to loom over me, I curl up into a ball waiting for him to claw at me but instead the bear starts racing in the opposite direction. I sigh in relief but my head starts to hurt more and more and my vision becomes blurry. The trees in front of me are swaying and blood is trickling down my head. I start to see black blotches and my sight is instantly taken away. The last thing I hear before the darkness enfolds me is my name being screamed and sirens going off...

I wake up thinking it is a nightmare and that I am still sleeping in the woods where my friend and I went camping. Looking around, I spot my dad, mom, sister, and friend sitting on the couch snoring away; a heartbeat monitor to my left and an IV connected to my hand by a needle. I’m at the hospital. At that second I realize that it isn’t just a nightmare, it is a nightmare that came to life. I sit there in shock, baffled at the series of events that took place just a few hours ago. My friend’s life was in danger but within a few seconds it was me in her place. That’s when it dawns to me, we never know when or what is going to happen. We shouldn’t hold grudges and fight, because we don’t really know what we have until we lose it; I almost lost her, my friend.