My Ma and Pa had never really had much of anything. They taught us that all we needed was each other’s love.

My house my may broken and empty, but it’s really the adventures that keep you afloat.

I’ve had many adventures here. Like falling on my knees and scraping them, hearing chilling noises during the night, but this isn’t the best of my adventures. Let me tell you about the time I almost died.

I told my Ma and Pa that I was going to collect rocks. But I hadn’t told them it was along the river. I didn’t know how to swim, but I figured if my sister came with me, nothing would happen.

I was walking along my favorite river. It had a waterfall and everything.

There was a trail of rocks on the river and I decided to hop on them, as if the floor was lava.

I tripped and fell and hit my ankle.

My sister screamed, she screamed my name loud. I bet the aliens could hear it.

My house was not far, so my parents came running.

I was holding on for dear life on one of the rocks.

I looked back and saw the water turning red. I realized my ankle was bleeding.

I hadn’t thought of the pain, until I saw the blood.

Suddenly, I was screaming and crying. Tears rolling down my cheeks.

My Ma and Pa had come at the right time because my hands were losing grip on the wet rock.

My Ma was shaking and I could see the fear on her face.

My Pa grabbed a large branch and threw it across the river.

I guess I was stunned because I froze and couldn’t move.

My Ma walked across the branch and grabbed me and held me in her arms.

I was brought back to safety.

My sister wrapped me in her blanket and I ate warm broth.

That’s when I knew to never take anything for granted.