I had never been a fan of the outdoors. I particularly hated the woods. Yes, you may tell me it's good to be with Nature and that it helps clear the mind. Some anti-mosquito spray will help me cope with the inconvenience of the bushes. However, dear reader, as you keep reading my story you will realise I had a powerful reason to hate the woods. Especially at certain times of the month. Nothing to ...

“Finally! We’re here!”

After miles of hiking through dirt trails, steep slopes, and dense trees, we arrived at our campsite. My legs ache with fatigue as we entered the spacious clearing.

“I know, right? I’m so excited!” My friend Autumn squealed, slinging her pack off her shoulder and onto the forest ground. It seemed she’d failed to pick up the dread and sarcasm in my voice. “Caroline, you set...

We weren’t even halfway to the camp and I was already regretting saying yes to this trip. I hate the outdoors, I hate the wilderness, I hate bugs. Camping is not my thing, but my friends talked me into it anyway.

A few hours later, we pulled up to a cozy looking cabin. I breathed a shy of relief, realizing I didn’t actually have to sleep in a tent. We unpacked our stuff and changed.

Of course h...

Crackling fire

Dazzling sky

Climbing higher

This is why

The great outdoors

Much prefer the City

Skyscrapers with floors

Maybe too many

Silent nights

Creatures chatter

Stars shine bright

Raindrops patter

Calming sounds

Lull to sleep

All around

Truth to keep...

The hike up elicited many shrieks and groans from Emma. She was caked in mud, she walked into a spider web, and she had forgotten her sunglasses so her eyes were squinting most of the day.

Once they all arrived at the campground, John suggested Emma rinse off in the creek. More shrieks when she realized how cold the water was and how many water bugs were surrounding her every step. She huffed and...

Once upon a time it was Tuesday and you sank into memory foam. Someone invisible held your mind away from sleep, and smiling, carefully carved dark crescents under your eyes.

I don’t know who, but I want to catch them and kill them.

She laughs

I knew you needed rest but I didn’t know how to give it to you.

Sorry I didn’t tell you where we were going.

I know you don’t like camping and I was af...

The sunlight peers through the tent’s mesh ceiling, and Jacob slowly rustles awake. For a brief moment, it’s rather peaceful. The birds chirping is slow, rhythmic almost. Water bubbling from the creek nearby can even be heard. For the first time, he did not reach immediately for his phone to check the reception. “This can’t be? Am I…enjoying this?” He thought to himself as he sat up in the sleepin...

I was buried alive. When something bad happens to you, people tend to use a million different niceties to dance around any description of the event, as if not talking about it will make it all go away. In fact, people get upset with you when you talk about trauma, because talking about it makes people afraid. I want you to be afraid. If one more ignorant slob asks me to go camping with them, I’ll ...

I had dirt up my crack. I dusted my hands off on my black leggings as I trekked back up the hill. I had no reason being out in the middle of the forest with a bunch of outdoorsy buffoons but here I was—walking up the side of a mountain after taking a tumble.

Of course my feet slipped. I was hiking in my white Air Force 1’s because that’s the closest shoe I owned that was halfway suitable for bein...

Snap.

Moore opened his eyes into complete darkness. For a few velvet black moments he didn’t know where he was. Cold blooded fear uncoiled in his belly.

snap.

Moore tensed then remembering relaxed into polyester uncomfortableness of his borrowed sleeping bag. Yeah I’m camping. I left heat, Wi-Fi, my bed, and actual floors to sleep like an animal, Moore thought bitterly. To Moore’s left, his f...