I prayed that this was one of my smaller mistakes as I stood at the edge of the rushing stream watching the furious water carve at the shore. Sand and dirt began to cave in around the flow and stranded me on a small island in the middle of the stream after it had carved out a new course and destroyed my only avenue for escape.

Across the water, an ancient rusted automobile sunk as the earth collapsed under it, sending it into the current and downstream. My island was shrinking and there was no escape. To prolong my survival even though death was inevitable, I retreated to the middle of the island and clung to a tree, hoping vainly that it would hold its roots.

An hour passed, and the water was touching my feet. I felt the tree trunk begin to sway and surrendered all hope.

I let go.