MESSED UP

My heart skipped a beat. I had to get out of there, but I was frozen in terror. I felt my earring slip from my ear, the clatter of it hitting the ground echoing in the stillness of the night. “No!” I gasped, my eyes wide with fear.

I’d never imagined such a scenario could unfold, but there I was, hiding behind a tree and straining to hear every sound. The last thing I expected was for the jingle of my earring to catch their attention, but when I heard a sharp intake of breath, I knew I’d been caught. My heart was racing, and my stomach churned with dread. What would happen next?

“Did you hear that?” The man who seemed to be their leader sniffed the air, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. His head turned toward my hiding place, and my heart skipped a beat. Would I be found out?

“I heard it too,” said one of the men, pointing to the bush where I was hiding. My heart leaped into my throat and I didn’t know whether to run, scream, or stay frozen where I was. My body was shaking, my b