It was already March, and in just a few weeks the school year would end. Excitement filled the air—summer was coming, and with it came endless possibilities. Jela and Carm had already been making plans. Jela kept talking about going to the beach, while Carm said she'd rather stay home and watch movies together.
I didn't care what we did, really. As long as I was with them, it would be fine.
One afternoon, as we were walking home, we spotted a bright flyer posted on a board. It advertised a camping trip organized for students in the area. There would be hiking, bonfires, and all sorts of games.
Jela nearly tore the poster off the wall. "We have to go! Everyone's going to be there!" she shouted.
Carm crossed her arms, unimpressed. "You just want to stay up all night roasting marshmallows."
"And you don't?" Jela shot back with a grin.
I couldn't stop laughing at them. We signed up the next morning, asked permission from our parents, and to our relief, they agreed.
The last day of school finally arrived. When the final bell rang, the school erupted into chaos. Students danced in the halls, shouted with joy, and even threw notebooks into the air as if they had been freed from a long prison sentence.
I stood near the gate, watching with a small smile tugging at my lips.
And then there was Jela.
She jumped into the crowd, spinning around wildly, trying to copy dance moves from the older students. Her laughter echoed across the courtyard, bright and unrestrained.
I laughed so hard I almost cried.
Carm, of course, wasn't impressed. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Jela, you idiot! You're embarrassing yourself!" But even then, I caught the tiniest smirk on her face.
That was the way it always was with us. Carm scolding, Jela laughing, and me stuck in the middle, grateful for both of them.
For once, life felt… normal.
The camp would start in three days. At home, my mom helped me pack my clothes, carefully folding them one by one. She reminded me about little things—extra socks, snacks, sunscreen. My dad carried my bag with one hand and checked the other for the list he always kept with him. Their care warmed me in ways I still wasn't used to. I smiled, though deep inside, part of me still ached whenever I remembered the family I had lost.
Finally, the day arrived. My dad drove me to the meeting point where the buses waited. The place was alive with noise—students laughing, teachers calling out names, parents giving last-minute advice. I clutched my bag tightly, nerves mixing with excitement.
Climbing onto the bus, I scanned the rows of seats. Some of my classmates were already inside, chatting and shouting across the aisle.
As the bus finally began to pull away, I glanced out the window and caught sight of my father. He was standing by the roadside, smiling at me with pride in his eyes. I lifted my hand and waved with the biggest smile I could manage, wider than I'd shown in a long time.
For a moment, he looked almost shocked at my expression, then his smile deepened, soft and warm. I thought I saw the glint of a tear in his eye as he waved back. My chest tightened. Maybe, just maybe, I was finally giving him hope that I was healing.
I kept watching him until the bus turned the corner, and he disappeared from view.
Not long into the ride, chaos returned—as usual, thanks to Jela. She slumped in her seat with a pale face, groaning dramatically.
"Ugh… I think I'm dying…" she muttered.
Carm leaned back, crossing her arms, and laughed without mercy. "Finally! The monkey has been defeated by motion sickness."
I burst out laughing while Jela shot her a glare that could melt steel.
"If I move even a single inch, I'm going to barf. You're lucky, Carm," she mumbled.
"Guess that means no wrestling match this time," Carm teased with a smirk. She turned to me and added in a low voice, "That's how you handle a monkey."
Jela had already closed her eyes, too weak to fight back. I laughed even harder, clutching my stomach while Carm gave me a satisfied look.
The bus rumbled on, carrying us away from the city toward the Maya Forest. The trip would take four hours—four long hours of chatter, laughter, and drowsy students.
Before long, the quiet hum of conversation filled the bus. Some students were playing games, others were singing, and some were already fast asleep with their heads against the window.
The seat in front of us suddenly turned, and a boy leaned over the backrest. His short hair was neatly combed, and he had an easy grin that made him look approachable.
"Hey," he said. "I'm Chris."
He introduced himself as a student from another school. Apparently, his friends had forced him to join the camp because he studied too much. "They said I needed to, you know, touch grass," he added with a laugh.
Jela, who had somehow recovered just enough to open one eye, chuckled weakly. "Sounds like Carm," she teased.
Chris smirked, then turned to me. "What about you guys? Why'd you sign up?"
"For fun," I answered simply. "We just… wanted a break."
He nodded knowingly. "Yeah. Same here. Well, sort of."
The four of us kept talking as the bus moved steadily down the highway. Chris shared funny stories about his school life, about how he once answered an entire math exam with doodles when he panicked, or how his classmates voted him "most likely to marry his books." He was easy to talk to, quick to laugh, and surprisingly humble despite being an academic achiever.
By the time the first hour had passed, it felt like we had already gained a new friend.
Minutes later, Carm and Chris dozed off, leaving me to stare out the window. On my other side, Jela was pressed against the glass, fast asleep, a little drool dripping down as the bus rattled on.
Outside, endless fields stretched toward the horizon. The sun glowed golden across the land, painting everything in warmth. It was simple, but beautiful. My eyelids grew heavy as I stared at the view, and soon, sleep began to claim me too.
"Lena, wake up!"
I blinked awake, groggy, to see Carm leaning over me, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Look outside!" she urged.
Rubbing my eyes, I turned to the window—and gasped. The city was gone. We were surrounded by towering trees, the bus winding its way deeper into the Maya Forest. All around me, students pressed to their windows, marveling at the view.
Even Jela stayed slumped in her seat, still too weak from her motion sickness to care.
"We're almost there," the driver called.
Sure enough, before long the bus slowed to a stop. The doors opened with a hiss, and the sound of birdsong spilled in. Workers and camp staff greeted us cheerfully, while animals darted playfully in the distance. Nature surrounded us completely, alive and untamed.
One by one, students grabbed their luggage and filed off the bus. Of course, we were the last to get out—thanks to Jela moving at the speed of a snail.
A cheerful camper greeted us and led us to our cabin. To our surprise, we weren't sleeping in tents at all but in wooden cabins tucked between the trees. Ours would house five students in total, which meant two roommates we hadn't met yet.
As we walked along the path, a sudden rustling came from the branches above.
A monkey dropped down without warning—landing squarely on Jela's shoulder.
She froze in place, wide-eyed. "Uh—get it off!"
The camper quickly raised a hand. "Don't hurt it! The monkeys here are friendly."
So Jela stood there, stiff as a statue, as the monkey perched comfortably on her shoulder.
Carm smirked. "Well, would you look at that—the monkey found its mommy."
That did it.
"CARM!" Jela shouted, lunging at her. The two tore across the camp in a wild chase while the poor camper tried to get them under control. I laughed so hard I could barely breathe, following them as we were finally guided into our cabin.
It was wonderful.
By the time we finished unpacking in our cabin, the sun was already sinking behind the forest, painting the trees with streaks of gold and crimson. The air was cooler now, filled with the sound of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl.
Carm collapsed onto her bed, stretching like she had just run a marathon. "Finally. Peace."
"Peace?" Jela repeated with a huff. She was still sulking after her chase with the monkey, arms crossed tightly. "You've been bullying me since the bus ride."
Carm smirked from her pillow. "And it's been the best part of my day."
I shook my head, hiding my smile as I neatly folded my clothes into the small drawer by my bed. "You two never change."
Before they could start bickering again, a knock came at the door. Two girls peeked inside—their new roommates.
"Hi! We're staying here too," said the taller one, her hair tied back in a high ponytail. She introduced herself as Andrea, while her friend, shorter with round glasses, shyly waved and said her name was Mia.
They seemed nice enough. Andrea was chatty right away, asking where we were from and if we'd ever camped before, while Mia mostly listened and smiled. It felt good, meeting new people. Chris had already made the bus ride fun, and now we had more people to share the experience with.
That evening, the camp leaders called everyone to gather at the main clearing. A massive bonfire had been built in the center, its flames already crackling and reaching toward the night sky. The fire's glow lit up the faces of dozens of students sitting in circles, laughter and chatter rising into the air.
I sat between Carm and Jela, with Andrea and Mia on the other side. The warmth of the fire brushed against my face, the scent of smoke mixing with the earthy smell of the forest. For a moment, I felt… safe.
One of the camp counselors stood and raised his voice. "Tonight marks the beginning of our adventure together! For the next week, you'll experience life in the wild—hiking, games, challenges, and maybe even discovering something new about yourselves. But first, let's enjoy this night."
The counselors handed out sticks with marshmallows, biscuits, and chocolate. Jela's eyes lit up instantly. "S'mores! My favorite!"
She nearly burned her marshmallow to ash, while Carm roasted hers to golden perfection, smirking smugly at Jela's mess. I carefully toasted mine, laughing at the chaos around me. Andrea taught Mia how to roast without dropping the marshmallow, and Chris—who sat with another group—kept shouting jokes loud enough for everyone to hear.
After the food and laughter, the stories began. Some students told scary ghost tales, others shared embarrassing memories from school, and every time the fire popped, a few of the younger campers squealed.
When it was Carm's turn, she leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Alright, here's mine. Once upon a time, there was this really annoying girl who got chased by a monkey…"
"CARM!" Jela's scream nearly toppled me over with laughter. The entire circle burst into giggles, and even the counselors couldn't help but smile.
But as the laughter died down and the fire burned lower, I grew quieter. My gaze lingered on the flames, the flicker of orange and red reminding me of things I'd rather forget.
For a brief second, the laughter around me faded. I could almost see another table, another fire, my real family sitting close, smiling and laughing together. My chest tightened painfully, and I pressed a hand against it as if that could stop the ache.
"Lena?" Carm's voice snapped me back. She was watching me carefully, brows furrowed.
I forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just… sleepy."
She didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further either.
As the night ended, the counselors sent us back to our cabins. Jela fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, and even Carm eventually dozed off after muttering something about "monkeys" in her dreams. Andrea and Mia whispered to each other for a while before drifting to sleep too.
I lay awake the longest, staring at the wooden ceiling. The sounds of the forest surrounded me—rustling leaves, chirping insects, the distant call of an owl.
For the first time in a long time, I wasn't in my own bed, but here, in the middle of the forest, surrounded by people who laughed and teased and made me feel alive again.
And yet, in the quiet, the memories crept back.
I closed my eyes tightly, praying for sleep, but knowing the nightmares would come.