Heart pounding, Rebecca Cain jumped as a car door slammed on the street outside. Alone at home, the 24-year-old hid behind drawn curtains and refused to answer the phone. It had been days since she'd ventured out to see her mates and even the sight of a new text had her on edge. For months, Rebecca was a nervous wreck - all because of her ex-boyfriend.
From giant mountains to vast deserts, an American photographer spent a year capturing the diverse and beautiful landscape of the United States .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
An adorable little squirrel wakes from a nap and pops out his tongue for the camera .
A BLIND man was battered with a brick in a sickening attack by two thugs .
FORGET Thorpe Park this summer as this is a 50 mile-per-hour ride over the Colorado River CANYON .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
A little caterpillar fearlessly scampers down a branch and confronts a praying mantis .
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
A proud gorilla mum welcomes her newborn baby western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species .
SHOVELLING food into his mouth, this hungry gorilla enjoys a peaceful moment at dinner time .
Splashing around in the water, a mother otter and her son are tangled in a family feud .