The mysterious disappearance of-

It had been several days since the warmth of the sun had graced my cold aching body. My boots, thick with mud and reluctance, unrooted me and with a gentle urgency, pushed me forward. Vines caressed my waist as I waded through the murky water, god forgive me for imagining the tight squeeze of a boa as a means to end this expedition.

X

We’d schlepped from muddy bank to muddy bank, taunting fate as we went. We were wild, carefree, invincible, only four short days ago.

He never saw the snake. He never felt a thing. Carried on just as he would, until the convulsions.

I’d never seen someone crumple like that. Like a piece of paper crushed in a child’s hand and tossed across a classroom. Like he could fold if the wind blew the wrong way. I did what I could. I think I did what I could. Whatever I did, had to be enough. We were in the Amazon for the love of god, do you know how long rescue missions take out there? Weeks. And if you haven’t already died of your wounds, get ready for dehydration, starvation, malaria, dengue, oh and the fucking snakes! Just you wait, they’ll come.