I Am Still Alive

Jess takes another painkiller and forces herself to crawl around the forest floor, collecting sticks and small logs and putting them in her backpack. She manages five trips’ worth and then starts to build her fire. It fails to start at first, and Jess feels like giving up, but she keeps trying, thinking back to how her father did it. Jess changes her approach by shredding some pages of the only book she has and using it as kindling. After a few tries, she manages to start a fire and cuddles up with Bo for the night, trying not to think about her father.

The narrative shifts back to Jess’s time with her father. When Griff leaves, Jess spends several days keeping to herself and letting her father do all the work. When Griff finally returns, Jess reacts as though she has been stranded for months and immediately asks him to take her home. Griff has no answer to that, but he gives Jess a backpack, a notebook, and gel pens. Although the gifts are made for a young child, Jess appreciates the thought. Griff stays for a day, and Jess has the opportunity to show off her archery skills.