I was lost. I finally accepted it after running in circles for the fifth time, arriving at the same spot.

I had marked the long tree—because that seemed to be the best adjective for the tallest tree I’ve seen in my life—after the second attempt had landed me right at its feet.

What am I getting wrong?

I looked around the dark forest--which once would have drowned me in fear, but now seemed mysterious to me--and I wondered where I had gone wrong.

I had followed the area Rachel and her brother had led us through hours ago. I had stopped at the landmarks I saw then, so why wasn’t...