The chorus of insects was unmistakable, along with the occasional cry of a bird I didn’t recognize.
Jungle sounds.
How was it possible that I was still in the jungle?
The last thing I remembered was talking to my producer about our schedule, and the fact that we were leaving Panama the next morning.
What had happenedafterthat?
Dammit!The more I tried to remember, the less clear those events seemed.
Little snippets of what I assumed were memories flashed through my mind, and I didn’t know if they were true or imagined.
Had I really headed to the outdoor shower after I’d chatted with Jen?
My body tensed as I remembered a moment of panic like I’d never experienced before in my entire life.
I hadn’t been able to breathe.
Had I really been attacked from behind?
Shit!Why couldn’t I remember?
None of this made sense.
Maybe I was hallucinating.
Maybe none of that had happened.
Maybe I was dreaming.
If so, I was having one hell of a hard time waking myself up.
My body started to shiver even though I felt like I was about to spontaneously combust from the heat.
I tried to wrap my arms around my body, but my hands barely moved.
Shit!Why wouldn’t my hands move?
And why was the pain so horrendous every time I tried?
Fear, pain, and frustration took over as I failed to even put my arms in motion.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Somehow, I had to make sense of what was happening to me.
Instinct was telling me that my life probably depended on my ability to shake off whatever was hampering my movements.
I had to cool off.
I had to get water.
I had to fight whatever was causing my pain and lack of mobility.
Most of all, Ihadto clear my head so I could figure out exactly what to do.
I was almost certain that Iwasn’tdreaming.