As we emerged from the river, our skin refreshed and rejuvenated, we all couldn't stop talking about how much fun we had just had. The swimming had been a blast, and everyone was still buzzing with excitement.
"I can't believe how warm the water was!" one of the guys exclaimed. "I was expecting it to be freezing!"
"I know, right?" another guy replied. "I was a bit hesitant at first, but once I got in, I didn't want to get out!"
The girls were all chatting and laughing, their hair dripping wet and their faces flushed from the sun. "I loved swimming against the current," one of them said. "It was like a mini-workout!"
Gabriel and I were walking together, our towels slung over our shoulders. "That was so much fun," he said to me, his eyes shining with excitement. "I'm so glad we did that."
I grinned, feeling happy and content. "Yeah, me too," I replied. "It was exactly what we needed after that crazy night."
As we walked back to the campsite, the group's energy and enthusiasm were palpable. Everyone was still talking about the swimming, reliving the fun moments and laughing together.
When we arrived back at the campsite, we all collapsed onto our towels, exhausted but exhilarated. The sun was shining down on us, warming our skin and drying our hair. We lay there in comfortable silence, our eyes closed and our faces smiling.
It was a moment of pure relaxation, a moment of pure joy. We had found a sense of freedom and happiness in the river, and we were all grateful for it.
As I lay there, I felt a sense of appreciation for my friends, for the adventure we were on, and for the memories we were creating. It was a moment I would never forget, a moment that would stay with me for the rest of my life.
As we sat around the campsite, basking in the warmth of the sun and the joy of each other's company, Gabriel and Maddie flanked me on either side, our trio formation a testament to the bond we had formed. We were lost in our own little world, savoring the peace and tranquility of the moment.
But then, Alex appeared before us, the satellite phone held gingerly in his hand. His eyes locked onto mine, a determined glint in their depths. "Hey, guys," he said, his voice low and serious. "I think it's time we tried to reach your dad again."
My heart skipped a beat as I gazed up at Alex, a mix of emotions swirling within me. Hope and anxiety wrestled for dominance, as I nodded slowly. "Yeah, let's try."
Gabriel and Maddie exchanged a supportive glance, their faces set with determination. We all knew how crucial this moment was, how much it meant to establish contact with the outside world.
Alex nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Okay, here goes." He flipped open the phone, his fingers moving deftly over the keypad. The device emitted a series of beeps and chirps, and then, suddenly, a voice crackled through the speaker.
My heart leapt into my throat as I recognized the voice on the other end. "Dad!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with excitement. "Is that you?"
The voice on the other end grew stronger, more distinct. "Son! Oh, thank God! I've been trying to reach you for days. Are you okay? Are you safe?"
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I listened to my dad's words, relief and joy washing over me in waves. "Yeah, Dad, we're safe. We're all here, together. We made it through the crash."
Gabriel and Maddie exchanged a look of pure elation, their faces shining with happiness. Alex grinned, his eyes shining with pride. We all knew that this moment marked a turning point, a new chapter in our journey.
As we spoke with my dad, our voices filled with laughter and tears, we knew that we were no longer alone. We were connected, reunited, and ready to face whatever lay ahead, together.
As I stood up and walked away from my friends, the satellite phone still clutched in my hand, I could feel my heart racing with a mix of emotions. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts and find the right words to explain the unimaginable to my dad.
"Dad, it's...it's a long story," I began, my voice shaking slightly. "We weren't on a vacation, exactly. We were on a plane, and it...it crashed."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could sense my dad's confusion and alarm. "What? What are you talking about? Where's your mom? And Gabriel? Are they...are they okay?"
I closed my eyes, taking another deep breath before continuing. "Gabriel is with me, Dad. We made it out of the crash together. But...but Mom and her boyfriend, they weren't so lucky. We don't know what happened to them. And our pilot, Mr. Johnson, he's nowhere to be found either."
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening. I could imagine my dad's face, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. I knew he was trying to process this information, to wrap his head around the fact that his family had been in a plane crash and only two of them had survived.
"Dad, I know this is a lot to take in," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But we're safe now. We're with some friends, and we're trying to figure out what to do next."
My dad's voice came back on the line, laced with a mix of emotions. "Okay, son. Okay. I...I need to process this. But I'm glad you're safe. I'm glad you and Gabriel are together. We'll figure this out, okay? We'll get through this together."
I nodded, even though I knew my dad couldn't see me. "Yeah, Dad. We'll get through this. Together."
I told Dad we're in an undisclosed zone right now with our new friends, I promised him we were safe and when we come out from here, I will let him know of our location, for now, we're just somewhere in the Maine forest.