I shuddered in fear as I woke up drenched in cold sweat with cold and clammy hands from a recounting nightmare about a terrifying event that happened in the forest beside my neighbourhood last week.

"Kate, we have been walking around the forest for a while now and we still have not found aa suitable lake large enough for us to kayak in. Can we just give up?" Patrick, my companion on my forest trip, said.

I stubbornly shook my head as I was determined to kayak today with the sun out and a cool breeze caressing us and also stubborn because Ruth, our other companion decided not to join us to kayak so I was sad. Soon, we finally found a lake big enough and we placed the kayak on the lake, sat on it and started paddling. After a while, we had finished kayaking half the lake when thunder was heard and lightning was seen. Dark clouds started to fill the sky and it started to drizzle. "No. No. No!" I thought to myself as I placed my paddles in the kayak, "it cannot be raining while we kayak. The sky was so clear just a second ago!" I was extremely disappointed while Patrick looked up at the sky, a look of terror on his face. Different scenarios ran through my head as I thought of what was going to happen next. Suddenly, the worst scenario struck me. I got out of my trance and was alert again. I quickly picked up my paddle and started paddling.

"Patrick? Patrick!" I shrieked snapping my fingers in front of his face, "get out of your trance and start paddling to shore. Otherwise, the kayak might overturn as water slowly fills the kayak!"

Patrick let a whimper slip through his lips and immediately started paddling hastily as if his life depended on it and I wondered why. Then I remembered. Even though Patrick was already 19, he does not know how to swim. In my desire to kayak and enjoy myself, I had forgotten to make ourselves wear life vests. I sighed and wanted to smack myself in the face. The rain got heavier and soon it started pouring like cats and dogs. Big fat droplets of water fell from the sky and blurred my vision. I tried to wipe the water from my eyes but it only made it worse.

I tried to paddle with my blurry vision but the only thing that happen was turning around in circles. On my last try, Patrick and my paddle clashed, making our kayak overturn. Patrick started to panic. His breathing quickened and he flailed his arms around, causing him to sink faster. His head went under the water then above it repeatedly. I had to do something, fast! I attempted to turn the kayak over to pour the water out of it so that we could get back inside and kayak back to shore but to no avail. Afraid that Patrick would drown, I swam back to shore, towing Patrick with me using the life-saving skill that I have learnt during my advanced swimming lessons. "I hope Ruth will be alert and use the satellite phone to call for help."

Sirens were heard and red and blue lights were seen. It was the police. I relaxed and started treading water, helping Patrick stay afloat. Ruth must have called for help. The lifeboat stopped beside us and Patrick and I were hauled in.

Ruth and a few policemen were inside getting blankets and hot drinks ready for us. We eagerly grabbed a blanket and a hot drink and started feeling warmer. Ruth eyes were wide open and when I held her hand, it was very cold. I could tell that she was very relieved that we were safe.

I sighed, laying back down on the bed. I swore to myself to never be careless again, as they say, 'Once bitten, twice shy'. This will never happen again.