Come Hiking

Come Hiking
Five years ago

My music blasted through my headphones as I continued my drawing from the picture I took hiking last week.

As I was finishing up the background, I felt one of my earbuds get ripped out of my ear.

"What the hell?" I turned around to my mother who had her hands on her hips as she stared at me with a scowl.

"You know you're grounded for skipping school young lady. Do we need to go over the rules again?" She asked with a slight tinge of anger laced through her voice.

I just rolled my eyes and went back to my drawing.

I was grounded for skipping school to go take this picture actually. This was the seventh time I had skipped this year, and my parents would've never known if I could have caught the letter in the mail on time.

When my mom found out she was pissed. Gave me a 30 minute lecture on why school was important and blah blah blah. I never cared for her rants, she was always so annoying during them.

I still had three more years until I was free and could tell her what was really on my mind. For now, I just had to sit back and roll with the punches.

"Dinner will be ready soon, I suggest you come down now and start setting the table." She turned to walk out of my room.

"I'm good. I'm not hungry." I replied to her curtly.

She stopped mid-closing my door, something that I had finally gotten them to agree on while I was grounded. They were never strict parents until I started skipping school and cared more about being outdoors than in them.

One time when I was grounded, I locked my door and snuck out again. Worth every minute sitting through my parents yelling at me to see the sunset that night.

"That wasn't a suggestion Evangeline. I'm telling you, come down now and help set the table."

"No."

I could feel her get closer to me. She yanked on my arm, dragging my color across the page, ruining my drawing.

"You don't get a choice when you're grounded I'm afraid." Her eyes pierced right into my soul.

"Screw you! You just ruined my drawing! What is wrong with you! I hate you!" I could feel the tears stinging my eyes, fighting to fall.

She released my arm and I dropped back down to my bed. Her face turned from angry to hurt within a second. Guilt immediately clouded my mind, but anger quickly took back over as I glanced from my drawing back to her.

"Take that back Evangeline May. We don't say things like that in this house, and you know that. I'm sorry I ruined your drawing, but that gives you no right to say you hate me after everything your father and I have sacrificed for you."

She turned around and left my room, leaving the door open.

I got up quickly and slammed my door shut, but not before letting a few curse words float down the stairs behind her.

My parents should understand my desire to be outdoors and not caged within them. They are park rangers themselves. They love being outside, basking in the sunlight, spending time in nature.

I grew up going on numerous hiking trips with them. Many nights spent under the stars, roasting marshmallows by the small fires my father was always proud of. They made me like this. They fueled my love for the outdoors, to be one with nature and never take it for granted.

A small knock came at my door as it creaked open. I had moved towards the window, jealous of the freedom the small birds in the tree had while I was locked up.

"Sweet bee, are you alright? You know your mother didn't mean to, and I know you don't mean it when you say you hate her. Talk to me, please?"

My dad's soothing voice came from behind me. I had always been his little girl, his only girl. But not today.

"Actually, you know, I'm not feeling very fond of either of you right now. In fact, I wish I could be freed from this stupid grounding and free from the leash you like to keep me on. Get out of my room."

I didn't turn back to look at him, but I could feel the air in the room thicken, both with anger and sadness from my father.

"You need to apologize to your mother, Evangeline. For the sake of this family, please. We are all each other have in this world, whether you like it or not. You will apologize tomorrow morning."

"Get out."

I heard him sigh and the soft creak of the wood as he turned and left my room, once again leaving the door slightly cracked.

I wouldn't apologize. Never in a million years. They knew how this was affecting me, how much I thrived being outdoors. I wasn't myself without the warmth of the sunshine on my face, or the way the stars lit up my eyes at night.

I laid down and closed my eyes, wishing that my life could be different. That someone would understand me one day. Sleep took me after an hour of laying in the dark.

The sunrise beamed through my window, the soft rays warming my face. I smiled and basked in the moment, forgetting about my grounding entirely.

"Breakfast is ready! And you'll be late if you don't get up now!" My mother's shrill voice carried up the stairs.

I groaned, smashing a pillow over my face. Please make her go away I thought to myself.

I reluctantly got up and quickly changed, throwing my hair into a low pony and brushing my teeth before heading downstairs.

"Goodmorning sweet bee, your mother and I are going on a hike later today, should be after school gets out if you would like to join us? It's on your favorite trail!"

My father beamed as he shared their plans.

"No thanks, I'd rather go alone." I swiped an orange from the fruit bowl and headed out the door.

"No goodbye? No hug?" Both of my parents followed me to the door.

I didn't respond or look back as I kept walking down the front steps and onto the driveway. The bus appeared at the end of the road, slowly making it's way toward me.

"We love you! No matter what sweet bee."

The bus screeched in front of me and the doors opened. I got on, and looked at my parents through the small window.

Little did I know that was the last time I'd ever see them, hear their voice, or hug them.

3 hours until school was over, the principal walked into my classroom scanning over every student until his eyes locked with mine.

"Ms. May, could I see you in my office?" He gestured towards the door.

Well shit. I ran through the things that I had done in the past week. Nothing I could recall would invoke a call to the office.

I followed him into his office and he waved to a seat across from his desk. I sat down, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Evangeline, this is really difficult to share, but, uhm, your parents, they-"

"They called? They always involve themselves in everything! I haven't done anything!" I waved my hands all crazy.

"No, Evangeline. Please, let me finish."

I stayed quiet. My stomach doing flips as I waited for him to speak again.

"Your parents. I'm so sorry. They were found on a hiking trail, another ranger found them, I'm not sure of the details, but they're gone Evangeline. I'm so sorry, if you need anything, to stay in here, or support from a counselor, we can help you. Someone will be here soon to speak with you. Are you okay?"

My parents? I shook my head, tears threatening to drop from my eyes.

"You're lying. My parents said they weren't going hiking until after I got out of school. I was going to agree to go with them, I- I-"

He got up and walked around the desk, and put a firm hand on my shoulder.

"Take a breath. It's okay." Tears appeared to form in his own eyes.

Everyone knew my parents. They were loved by everyone. And I told my mom I hated her. I refused their hug this morning. I didn't get to say goodbye.

I wished for them to be gone. For my life to be different. And the universe is laughing at me.

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I stared at my principal. I wanted to scream. Get away. Go to my parents. They couldn't be dead. They were experienced hikers. They knew those trails like the backs of their hands.

But that was just it.

Two weeks went by, many people came by our house to offer their condolences, but no one could give me back the one thing I wanted.

They were dead because of me. I wished for this. I should have gone with them, maybe I could have prevented this. If I had just agreed, maybe they would have waited and this would have never happened.

But I was selfish. My own desires clouding what truly mattered.

Nothing would ever be the same again.