All Because of a Camping Trip

3

" Morning! Get up already, it's 9.00, breakfast is ready " Mom said. Carol, dad and I got up.

" Let's go for a swim! " Dad suggested. We all love that idea. Carol and I changed to our swimsuit and dived into the crystal clear lake.

" Chloe! Try and catch me! " Carol shouted. I swung my hand, ready to swim, and catch Carol. I jumped and swung my hand back and forth, trying to catch Carol, the moment I got to her, I dived in and pulled Carol's leg down. Her head was already in the water. A simple harmless joke. I didn't know Carol couldn't hold her breath for long. After a minute of holding her like that, her body became light and she sank into the bottom of the lake.

I dove down and lifted Carol's body up. My heart was beating so fast. Feelings of scared, sorry, and mad run through my body. When I got up, I took Carol to dry land and checked if she still had a pulse. Thankfully, I can still feel it.

" Mom! Dad! It's Carol! She ran out of breath underwater and fainted! " I shrieked. I didn't tell the part where I pulled her leg. They would ground me for life if I did.

" Carol! Stay with us! " Dad said. He checked her pulse. " Okay, we know that she still lives, maybe we should take her to the hospital ".

" That's a great idea Finn, Chloe, you stay here, dad and I will go to the hospital to check Carol's condition, be back before dark " Mom said. She urged that to go faster. And I was all alone.

I had a lot of time to think about my behavior.

Why did I even pull Carol? She never did anything bad to me, how did that awful thought pop into my head?

The rest of the time I was just lying inside my tent and thinking about my behavior.

A few times I got out to breathe fresh air and enjoy the magnificent view.

At 9.00 p.m my parents came back to camp.

" Mom, Dad! " I called out. They headed closer to me.

" Oh, hey honey! How was your day? " Dad asked. He plastered a huge grin.

" I want to ask the questions, " I said. " Wait, where's Carol? "

" The doctors couldn't save her, she was breathing, but when we arrived at the hospital, she wasn't anymore " Mom said.

I fell to the ground. I was now officially a murderer. Maybe I should go to the police and just hand myself in, I thought. But I quickly put that thought away. Mom and Dad will kill me if they know.

" Oh, Carol! " I screamed.

Strange thing is, my parents don't even look sad. They look very happy, like they just won the lottery.

" Chloe, it's okay, this is God's plan, we just have to roll with it. I'm pretty sure Carol would be sad seeing you cry over her " Mom said.

She's right! I got up and smiled.

" We gotta live life right! " I said. My parents smiled. That night we slept okay. I slept alone, it feels very weird, but I try to not think about it.