Tyler’s family home was on a mountain, and the steep path was uneven. The road uphill was hard enough and downhill was treacherous.
It was dark. Fear crept into my chest, but I couldn’t turn back now.
To make things worse, my phone died.
1/2
With no light and no sense of direction, I stumbled through the darkness. Every rustling sound, every animal cry, sent my heart racing
I tried to reassure myself, whispering, “Don’t be afraid,” under my breath. But the eerie noises made it impossible to calm down.
Just as panic started to set in, a beam of light cut through the darkness.
“Hey! Who’s out there?”
The flashlight’s glare made me squint. When I adjusted to the brightness, I saw an older man approaching,
“What are you doing in my orchard at this hour?” he asked suspiciously, shining the light in my face.
I raised a hand to block the light. That’s when I realized I’d wandered completely off course and ended up in someone’s fruit grove.
“Sorry, sir. I got lost. I’ll leave right away.
I turned to drag my suitcase out of his orchard, but the old man called after me. “Wait…”
His voice made my heart skip.
I froze, countless worst–case scenarios flashing through my mind. My hand tightened around my dead phone, ready to swing it if he tried anything-
“You’re trying to get down the mountain, aren’t you? It’s not safe for a young woman to be out here alone this late. I’ll give you a ride.”
The old man gestured for me to follow him, and I decided to take the chance.
A short walk later, we reached a small farming shed where he parked an old, rickety motorized tricycle. He helped me climb into the back before driving us down the dark mountain road.
