ERIN
Growing up, I always felt like I was living in the shadow of an expectation, an invisible standard that was set by my mother. She was a woman of high standards, a perfectionist who believed in the power of hard work and determination. She pushed me hard, always demanding the best from me, and I often felt like I was never good enough. I had failed my last exam and now I had a chance to make it right. I would not fail.
Every failure, every mistake was a reflection of my inadequacy. I remember the countless nights I spent studying, trying to get the perfect grades, the endless hours I spent practicing piano trying to hit the perfect notes. But no matter how hard I tried, it never seemed to be enough. There was always something more I could do, something better I could achieve.
I remember the disappointment in her eyes when I brought home a B on my report card, the frustration in her voice when I missed a note during my piano recital. It was as if I was constantly falling short of her expectations. I felt like a walking disappointment.
But despite the pressure, despite the constant feeling of inadequacy, I never gave up. I was determined to prove to her that I could be the person she wanted me to be. I studied harder, practiced longer, pushed myself to the brink of exhaustion. I was willing to do whatever it took to make her proud.
There were times when I questioned my worth, when I wondered if I was ever going to be good enough. But every time I felt like giving up, I remembered the look in my mother's eyes, the disappointment, the frustration. I didn't want to see that look again. I wanted to see pride, admiration, and love.
So I kept going, kept pushing, kept striving for perfection. And slowly but surely, I started to see a change. My grades improved, my piano playing became more fluid, and I could see a glimmer of pride in my mother's eyes.
But more importantly, I started to feel a sense of self-worth. I realized that I was not defined by my failures, but by my determination to overcome them. I was not defined by my mother's expectations, but by my own.
I learned that I was good enough, not because I met my mother's standards, but because I met my own. I learned that I was capable of achieving greatness, not because my mother pushed me, but because I pushed myself. I looked into the Jennifer’s and she had the same look of determination. We had lived similar lives. I could feel her frustration. I took a deep breath before breathing in the air and smells of the rainforest.
The wind had somehow found us, whipping itself against our skin, bringing a moment of relief from the humidity that stung our faces. Scott, with his usual stoic expression, seemed unfazed by the harsh conditions. He wasn't that tall, but he had broad shoulders that could probably bench press a small car. I had to admit, he looked pretty intimidating, like a grizzly bear in a business suit. And his face? Oh boy, it was as unyielding as the beaming heat that was turning us into human puddles. I half expected him to start spouting off survival tips in a deep, gravelly voice.
The two hopefuls, on the other hand, were a different story. They were young and inexperienced, their faces flushed with the heat and their breaths coming out in ragged gasps. They looked like a couple of lost puppies in a jungle full of lions. I could practically see the panic swirling in their eyes, like two deer caught in the headlights of a safari jeep. It was clear that they were not prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. Heck, they probably thought the rainforest was just a fancy name for a tropical vacation spot.
As we trudged through the thick foliage, sweat pouring down our faces like a never-ending waterfall, I couldn't help but wonder how on earth I had ended up in this ridiculous situation. I mean, who willingly signs up for a survival mission in the middle of the Amazon on Valentines day? Oh right, me. I blame it on too many late-night episodes of "the hot doctor show". That could possibly be the reason why I failed a class but I honestly didn't remember. It was strange.
But here we were, sweating buckets and swatting away mosquitoes the size of small aircraft. Scott, with his steely tenacity, led the way like a fearless explorer. Meanwhile, the two hopefuls were stumbling over tree roots and tripping over their own feet, like a couple of toddlers on a sugar rush.
I tried my best to keep up, my legs wobbling like a newborn giraffe in the savanna. It was a sight to behold, a perfect combination of grace and clumsiness. How on earth was I supposed to survive in the wild when I could barely walk on flat ground? I growled inwardly.
Just as I was contemplating my unfortunate predicament, Scott came up behind me and placed his hand on my back for support. But at that moment, I didn't want to be touched. It might have been a little dramatic but it couldn’t be helped.
And then, out of nowhere, a giant bird flew down from the trees and stole one of the hopefuls' granola bars. The poor guy let out a high-pitched scream that could rival a banshee and we couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Alex was shaken but carried on with us while we continued our trek through the rainforest. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. Sure, we were hot, sweaty, and probably smelled worse than a skunk's gym socks, but we had a mission to complete.
We trudged forth, when suddenly, the sound of monkeys could be heard in the distance causing us to grab their guns and look around. There were so many sounds here that were barely masked by our own labored breathing. The heat was smothering, but we couldn't afford to let the weather slow us down.
Scott was leading the way, his figure a dark silhouette against the lush green landscape. I kept a close eye on him, watching for any signs of treachery. He was my nemesis, after all, and I knew that he wouldn't hesitate to use this assignment to his advantage.
Despite the harsh conditions and the tension between us, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the stark beauty of the rainforest. The endless expanse of greenery and flowers, the foggy dense covered sky, the silence that was only broken by the occasional animal and our own footsteps. It was a harsh, unforgiving place, but it was also incredibly beautiful.
As we continued our journey, I knew that we had a long and difficult road ahead of us. But I was determined to complete this assignment and prove that I was just as capable as Scott. And as for the two hopefuls, I could only hope that they would be able to keep up.
As the day wore on, the temperature became more intense the further we went. The hopefuls were shivering now, their faces pale and their lips parched. I could see the doubt in their eyes, the fear that they wouldn't be able to make it. But they pressed on.
Scott held up his hand and signaling for us to stop. We all welcomed it. He sat by a tree and opened his backpack and began to drink water which had been packaged for us. How did he know that was in there? None of us had opened our bags.
I quickly opened mine revealing food, water, rope, ammo and other amenities.
While Scott sat against the tree, he looked over at the hopefuls. “Why would the professor send two teens on a trial run?” He blurted out.
“Actually, I don't know but we are here now, aren't we?” she snapped.
“So, you are just unafraid of everything, huh? So, you aren't afraid of that snake right above your head right?” Scott laughed.
Jennifer looked up and saw the snake above her head and grabbed it by the neck and threw it onto the ground and stomped on it, effectively killing it. “Exactly” she said with a sinister grin.
The other hopeful shivered and turned completely white. He just inadvertently revealed one of his weaknesses, a fear of snakes.
Alex slowly inched up from his seated position, stealing all of our attention as his eyes widened to saucers. "Um, guys, there's something on my back," he voice trembled.
I narrowed my eyes and saw a small green creature perched on Alex's shoulder.
"Don't move, Alex," I warned, trying to keep my laughter at bay. But it was too late. The moment I said those words, Alex let out a blood-curdling scream and took off in a wild dash, flailing his arms like a windmill on steroids.
I watched in disbelief as Alex ran straight into a tree, knocking himself out cold. He slumped to the ground, instantly snoring like a chainsaw. And that was when I saw it—the frog that had been on his shoulder hopped off, as if it had planned the whole thing.
"Out of all the time," Scott muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "An unconscious teenager and a mischievous frog. This is turning into a real-life cartoon."
I couldn't help but burst into laughter, the absurdity of the situation too much to handle. I watched as Scott walked over to Alex and pulled out a small vial of smelling salts. He waved it under Alex's nose and with a jolt, Alex woke up, his eyes still glazed over from the impact.
"Kid, you're going to assassinate yourself," Scott said, his voice a mix of concern and amusement. "That tree nearly took you out. You gotta be more careful."
Alex blinked, trying to process what had just happened. He gingerly touched the giant knot on the top of his head and winced. "Note to self: watch out for trees. Got it," he sheepishly mumbled.
With Scott's help, Alex made his way to the side of the tree to rest, still a bit dazed from the whole ordeal.
And as I watched them, I couldn't help but think that this adventure was turning into a dumpster fire but Scott seemed to be thriving in the harsh conditions. He moved with a grace and ease that was almost unnatural, his steps sure and steady. His eyes were focused on the horizon, his expression unreadable. I felt a pang of envy. He was a natural in this environment, while I was struggling to keep up.
As night fell, we set up camp. The hopefuls were exhausted, their bodies shaking from the humidity and exertion. I helped them set up their tents despite my own body aching from the day's journey. Scott, however, seemed as fresh as when we started. He set up his tent with practiced ease, his movements swift and efficient.
As I crawled into my tent, unease settled upon me. Scott was a formidable opponent, and I knew that I had to be on my guard. But the Forest was proving to be a challenge in itself. The heat was nearly unbearable. It was relentless and the terrain was unforgiving. I knew that the days ahead would be even more difficult.
I was committed to prove that I was just as capable as Scott. And as for the hopefuls, I could only hope that they would be able to keep up but they really weren’t my problem. As I drifted off to sleep, I wondered what the next day would bring. Little scratches floated to my ears and I jumped to my defenses. In my startlement, I woke the others who all held their guns at the ready in reaction.
The eyes of our predators could barely be seen with their strange sounds. My heart nearly beat out of my chest when one of them showed themselves crawling on all fours. It was a group of monkeys who walked around sniffing while making their strange noises.
The sight of the monkeys was both a relief and a surprise. Their small forms scratching and sniffing each other's butts were a stark contrast to the harsh, unforgiving landscape of the rainforest. Their strange squawking sounds filled the air, breaking the silence that had peacefully enveloped us.
The hopefuls seemed to perk up at the sight of our uninvited guests. Their faces lit up with excitement, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
“Monkey’s don't eat meat do they?”Alex asked.
I shrugged my shoulders when Scott explained they eat bananas and fruit.
“But what if they don't have any fruit?” Alex asked, his voice shaking.
“Stop worrying, the monkeys are only a small nuisance.” Scott flashed a small smile.
The hopefuls watched in awe as the monkeys jumped around between each other, leaping from tree to tree, their small bodies moving with surprising speed.
Scott, however, remained unfazed. He watched the monkey’s with a detached interest, his expression unreadable. I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance. Even in the face of such a surprising sight, he remained as cold and unyielding as the ground beneath our feet.
My boot began to sink into some deep mud. I pulled with all my might but I couldn't move. Anxiety wracked through me as I began to hyperventilate and think quickly. I removed my secret weapon—a rope with a grappling hook. I threw my hook up into the tree and began to pull myself free when my hook failed. Scott threw a knife that wedged into my hook holding it in place while I continued pulling myself. I watched as he climbed the tree effortlessly and retrieved his knife. I stood in awe of him for a moment on solid ground, wondering if I should be mad that he showcased so much skill in front of us all. And although my boot was wet, I was at least free.
“What are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed,” Scott snapped once he came back to my side. “We need to stop and make a fire now, so you can get your feet dry. Wet feet in the rain forest is asking for a problem.”
“So, who died and made you leader?” I snapped back. He wasn't going to outdo me. I saw his plan from a mile away, which was to make me seem incompetent. No, not today. I pushed past him and continued our walk. My foot squished with the water and mud but he wouldn't win this and graduate.
As we continued our journey, the monkey’s following us became a constant presence—their sounds echoed in the air behind us. They were an un-welcomed distraction, their antics were alerting anyone within ear distance that someone was there.
“Just freaking great, a band to announce our arrival,” Scott barked, looking at the monkeys in disgust while they began fighting and making all types of noises.
Despite the harsh conditions and the constant threat of Scott, I still felt a sense of wonder. This jungle was a harsh, unforgiving place, but it was also filled with unexpected surprises. And as we continued our journey, I knew that there were more surprises to come.