I still have nightmares. The fright wakes me up in a shiver. It was one of the most terrifying things that has ever happened to me. Not only was it terrifying for me, but it almost gave my grandmother a heart attack.

It all began on a sunny morning in July, 2008. My sister Maddie and I had traveled to Hong Kong to visit my grandparents. My grandfather had been moved to Hong Kong for business. My grandmother was going to take Maddie and me out to dinner and to the Library. Maddie and I were excited since it was a fancy and expensive restaurant, and decided to dress up for the occasion. I wore the typical six year old attire, an orange and pink tie-dye skirt, and a halter tank top that all matched my American Girl doll. My sister wore a white floral dress that my grandmother had bought her, because the flowers perfectly matched my sister’s bright blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, and her face full of freckles. Rudely adding as we were getting dressed, my sister said that I looked stupid in the outfit that I decided to wear. From that moment forward I knew that this wasn't going to be a good day.

We were going to the library first, but it was quite a walk to get there. It was quite the adventure to get to the library. You would think that it would be a quick walk, but Hong Kong was filled with bustling people trying to get to and from places. It was a very chaotic place, but I personally knew my way around that city very well, since we had been living there for about four weeks at that point. However, every child needs an adult to walk with them. I decided to bend the rules a little. As we walked through the streets, I thought that we were on route to our destination point. However, my grandmother had some doubts. Don’t get me wrong, my grandmother is the sweetest, most down to Earth person you will ever meet. You can tell just by her joyous smile that makes you give a bubbly grin right back at her and her kind words of wisdom that she’ll share with you to make you feel better. But she cannot find her way around anywhere for her life. So, of course she wanted to double check with a map.

We had to stop a couple times to stare at the map and try to make sure we were going in the right direction. I was a pretty witty child, so I figured I could help the situation, since I knew my way around. My sister was holding the map and I politely said, “Can I see the map?” She rudely shoved me off in a quick movement, not even bothering to hear what I was saying. I turned to my grandmother and spoke, “Can I see the map?” She surprisingly did the same. I kept asking and asking to a point where, I will admit, it was getting annoying. My grandmother turned to me and yelled “Katelyn, if you ask one more time, we’re turning around and going home!” Looking at her, I smirked, turned in the opposite direction, and jolted onward towards home.

I was beyond terrified. I was aimlessly wandering through the bustling city Hong Kong, begging to god that at some point I would know where I was. I had overestimated my skill on so many levels. I thought I knew where I was going, but I didn't. I was just a confused little girl that wanted to be surrounded with people that actually knew her name. A bunch of strange men stopped me in my tracks and asked if I needed any help. They were some of the sketchiest people I had ever seen, so I was very quick to respond with a harsh no. I felt like the entire world was spinning around me, with so many foreigners walking in and out of everywhere. I was in such a rage, I hadn't even began thinking about what was running through my grandmother’s mind. With all my chaotic surroundings, I still scattered on in a panic.

After about twenty minutes of darting through the world where people are everywhere, I finally knew where I was. I picked up the pace, because I have to admit, there was a little bit of pride running through my thoughts. I, a clueless six year-old little girl, had managed to navigate my way through the busy halls of a foreign tourist filled mall. I saw the hotel entrance. I was so relieved that I had finally made it, and didn't have to wander in fear any more. I darted up the escalator and to the elevator before anyone could welcome me into the building. I got off the elevator, sprinted to our room on the top floor, and waited. I sat in front of the door for what seemed like hours. All the thoughts, the guilt, hit me in the face like a brick wall. Suddenly, there was a loud ring that came from around the corner. It was the elevator letting its users know that it had landed on this level. I knew right then and there that I was okay. However, I sat still as a rock and waited for my grandmother and sister to approach me.

They sprinted over to me. They were so relieved that I was okay. I was so glad that my stubborn actions didn't lead to anything damaging, except for the expected yelling and punishing. My grandmother explained how she almost had a heart attack. Harshly, she described the horrendous experience that she has been going through for the past thirty minutes, and the reason they came back to the hotel was to get a picture of me to give to the police. The guilt piled up over me to the point where I had apologized so much that my lips started to hurt.

I was a stubborn little girl. Wandering through the frightening streets of Hong Kong, I didn't even stop to think about what I had done. The thought of turning back and just apologizing there and then never crossed my mind even once. I just wanted to get away from the two of them, and it was out of anger and temper. What others, and myself, should take out of this experience, is always try and calm down before you make the most costly mistake possible. Luckily, I got out of this experience safely.