CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – ANOTHER ARGUMENT

When she returned to the campsite, arms full of firewood, she found Mark still struggling with the tent. It was a lopsided mess, barely standing upright. "Having trouble?" she asked, unable to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. Mark straightened up, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's fine. I've got it under control." "Really? Because it looks like that tent is about to collapse at any moment," Laura said, dropping the firewood unceremoniously. Mark's jaw clenched. "Well, if you think you can do better, be my guest." "That's not the point, Mark!" Laura exploded, all her pent-up frustration finally boiling over. "This whole trip has been one disaster after another, and you just keep making decisions without consulting me!" Mark's eyes widened in surprise at her outburst. "What are you talking about? I'm trying to make this trip special for us!" "By doing what, exactly?" Laura shot back. "Getting us lost? Forgetting essential supplies? Insisting on camping in the middle of nowhere?"