Early in the morning, the sun had just barely risen, my family had woken up, already prepared for this family trip to a log cabin a couple hours out. My entire father’s side of the family would be staying in the same cabin for a couple nights. I walked out of my house and inhaled the sweet scent of a July morning, and hopped in the car. As my dad drove through the mountains I dazed into a light sleep. we arrived, and as we walked up I noticed a beautifully crafted stone pathway, I moved to the path. We walked into the unique, aging, pine wood door and were instantly greeted by my aunt’s parents. They had said that everyone went on a short hike to explore the large woods, shaded by enormous, beautifully aging trees.

“Jackson!” yelled, my voice echoing in the cabin. 

“Yeah?” he yelled back.

“Let's go explore!”, my four year old voice said with joy. 

Me and Jackson went on to explore the grand cabin. 

As we explored, we looked up, and we noticed a cool loft. It was what I would call a loft, but just around the perimeter of the area, the middle was cut out.  As we observed, we saw a small ladder just big enough for us to climb up, so we did.  Before we discovered this loft, we had found some games like a small horseshoe, and shoots and ladders. Jackson sent me down the ladder small,  wood ladder to bring games to the top of our “secret spot”

Considering my age, and my size, getting these games up the ladder all by myself would be pretty hard. I came up with a strategy to go up the ladder backwards, carrying the games in my hands, and slowly taking backwards steps up the ladder. My plan unfortunately did not work, and I face planted off of the ladder and landed directly on my chin. 

 My dad's hazel eyes looked  directly into mine in shock and worry.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!” he repeated over and over.

The next thing I remember is being on the kitchen counter, over the sink screaming.  

“She's gonna have to go to the hospital,” said my aunt’s mom in worry.

“NO, NO, NO NOT THE HOSPITAL! I'm OKAY, I'M OKAY!” exclaimed as I attempted to slide off the kitchen counter before being caught by my mom. 

“Honey, it's going to be okay, we just need you to sit still for us.” repeated my aunt’s mom over and over.

Next thing I know, I was in the car on my way to the hospital with my aunt's white towel that is now very red pressed onto my bleeding chin.

On the drive to the hospital, I felt dizzy, and unaware of time, I didn’t know, but at that moment, I was losing a lot of blood.   The next thing I know, I was being wheeled into the hospital on a chair, with a white towel that is now red and soaked, pressed against my chin. My hospital room was dark and gloomy, almost like an 8pm rainshower in April, slight static coming from the box T.V. on the wall.

After a short wait, I was sitting on the edge of a hospital bed getting a needle slowly getting woven in and out of my skin, feeling each pinch. Leaving the hospital my dad wheeled me out slowly on the rocky concrete, still in shock.