The hike had lasted four hours already. Complaints reached an all-time high. “We’re in the middle of nowhere!” I exclaimed when we reached the final beach. An unpleasant shock awaited me: Going back home meant a minuscule boat crammed with fifteen other people. “No life jacket?” I asked my mom skeptically. Once aboard, my vision became nonexistent due to the constant drenching of salt water. But suddenly, I heard myself laughing. Not a nervous or frightened laugh, but a carefree one. I wanted to savor this feeling forever, but the flow of time was as fast as the speedboat.
Elaina H, 15, is a high school student from California who has a passion for reading and writing. She also loves to take walks.