It was mid-October in New York, but summer hadn't quite given up on us yet. The day we'd chosen for the hike was likely to be one of the last good ones before the cold weather set in – we being me, Marisol, Allison, and Dexter.
Dexter was something of an expedition enthusiast – a real outdoorsy type, which is something that, personally, I would never understand. I didn't even know the guy very well, he was a friend of my brother's. The only reason I was invited was because he had specifically asked for a few locals with thick skin to accompany him on a weekend-long trek through Drery Forest. Dearest Brother had volunteered me, as well as Allison and Marisol.
Those two I did know. Marisol was my brother's ex-girlfriend, and Allison had been a friend since childhood. We'd never hung out as a trio, but I didn't find it difficult to picture. I rarely had a hard time getting along with people.
Dexter showed up at six in the morning on the day. I was barely sentient, an iPhone in one hand and a Red Bull in the other, constantly rubbing underneath glasses at my eyes with the heel of my palm. He was much taller than me, and had a lot more gear. His eighteen-pound backpack didn't seem to faze him.
"Good to meet you, AJ," he said pleasantly, and held out a well-toned hand for me to shake. I stuck my phone in my pocket to follow through.
After a long yawn that surely gave an excellent first impression, I nodded sportingly and said, "You, too. If I collapse from exhaustion, just tuck me in a bush somewhere and pick me up on the way back. I probably won't even notice."
Dexter laughed brightly. "The ride up to our starting point is about twenty-five minutes. You can sleep in the car if you like."
I could tell that Dexter and I were going to get along.
He didn't waste time. We left two minutes after that, once he was sure he had everything and my brother had finished getting ready. He was driving us down so that we weren't leaving a car on the side of the road for three days.
Next we picked up Allison, and then Marisol. I stayed in the car and tried very hard to keep myself asleep through the packing and moving.
I was shaken awake by Allison what seemed like seconds later, only now, we were pulled over and surrounded by trees. The golden sunrise was masked to our left, and Dexter and Marisol were unpacking the trunk.
The first thirty minutes of the walk were mostly – at least for me – an agonizing attempt to wake up, so I don't remember much. I eased into consciousness by watching the forest take form around me.
The trees were tall and absolutely beautiful. Most of the leaves blended from bright yellow to vibrant red, spilled along the forest floor or tucked away in high branches. Anywhere uncovered by leaves there was either fresh, healthy grass or wet-smelling dirt. The sun was making its slow ascent – which only added to the effect. It almost tempted me to delete my Twitter and become a forest-hermit.
Instead, I started taking pictures.
At the sound of the automated shutter click, Marisol, who was right in front of me, turned around. She kept walking, but looked at me skeptically, her dark skin radiant and darker hair bouncing from her fluid motions.
"Selfies? Really? You don't get the whole nature thing, do you, AJ?"
I smiled at her indulgently. "Pictures of the forest, actually," I corrected. "Human memory sucks. Now, I can look back at this perfect image whenever I want to."
"Sure," Marisol agreed lightly. "Until I catch you texting and throw your phone in a river."
"I don't mind you paying for a replacement," I assured her. "Besides, I highly doubt I'll get service out here."
