Just Being Me

Looking up into the gray sky, Caya Braswell felt the pelting of rain drops beating her face. This rain is running down my jacket and onto my legs. I have goose bumps the size of baseballs. I can't believe I let James talk me into hiking when the clouds looked like they would provide us with a deluge any second. It rarely rains in this part of Washington State, but let me get outside for the day and the heavens open and present us with liquid sunshine. "Caya get the move on before we become water logged out here and James and Lars throw us in a dryer at the laundry mat." "Please quit with the drama Rayna. These rocks are slick. Do you want me to slide off a cliff?" This is not my thing. I would rather be curled up in my cushiony recliner with a good romance novel letting the heroine participate in the outdoor adventures. Caya was picking her way through the rocky terrain with the utmost care. James was just a head of her but had slowed so that she could catch up to him. "Let's wait for Caya to catch up with us. Don't rush babe. Rayna you are going to make her slide on these rocks." "James I can't believe that you talked her into coming. You know she doesn't like hiking, especially in the rain. Whose idea was this anyway, yours' or Lars'?" Rayna was just as drenched as everyone else. She was struggling with the idea of waiting on her best friend or seeking shelter. "Lars, honey, I can't stand another minute out in this waterfall." Rayna's words were drowned out by a loud clap of thunder that persuaded Rayna to make a decision to seek shelter immediately. "James we are running to the truck. Stay and wait on your girlfriend." Rayna and I have been roomates and best friends since college. How can she just run off and leave me out here? She's already drenched anyway what is another stitch of clothing going to matter. These rocks feel like I am ice skating. My feet are sliding like a fawn trying to walk for the first time. "James I am freezing how much further until we make it to the truck?" "Caya you are doing great. Don't let Rayna get your dander up and make you hurry. We don't have much further. We have two more big rocks to get over and we will have flat land all the way to our ride." Great!!! My lungs feel like a blazing furnace, my clothes are clinging to me like Saranwrap, and I can no longer feel my feet and legs, but I am doing great. I can't believe my tratitorous best friend has abondoned me. If she thinks I am going to proofread anymore papers for her she has another thing coming. Finally, surely I can get passed the last boulder for today. Suddenly, Caya's foot is sliding on a huge bolder as if she were skating on glass. Her butt makes contact with said glass and she is sliding down this monstrosity of rock. "James!" James hears Caya yell and turns to see her sliding on her butt down the rock, barreling for the edge of the cliff.