The River

Chapter 18

They walked and walked in the desert for days. There was nothing to be seen around. The mountains behind the village were the last thing on the horizon behind them, and they couldn’t see those mountains for two days now.

It was really hard to bear the sunlight in the desert. Their water source was near to an end. Logan would just drink water from the river and left their water in the flasks for Laura.

At noons it was too hot and they would just sit and take their bags up their heads to be immune of the powerful rays of the sun. even nights were hot. Both Laura and Logan would take off their shirts at nights, and if it was not for the sun rays, they would stay shirtless during the day too.

There was no place for them to hide if any predator would attack, but on the other hand, no one could sneak attack on them, they could see any movement from far away.

Laura started to see water in the far distance, she was so happy, freshwater meant life and they could have some rest at a village. But the more they would advance, the more the water would go away from them. It was impossible to reach the water. Logan could see it too, but he thought to himself that maybe that is where the river is flowing.

The chasing of the distant water had become a nightmare for Laura, one day she started running to catch the water before it would move farther away. But it was pointless. The water moved away exactly at her speed. Finally Laura came to the conclusion that she was turning crazy.

They had no other way but to continue their journey. They have forgotten how many days they have been in the desert. It was a never-ending desert.

One day, Logan realized that all the food in his bag was finished. “How much food is left in your bag?” asked Logan, “Why?” asked Laura “You want some now?” “No,” said Logan “It just seems that mine is finished,” “Oh,” Laura looked at her bag with doubt, there was not much left, it was not enough to get them out of this desert, at least not both of them, “Yeah I have enough, don’t worry,” said Laura.

Then Logan took out some of Ubara’s candles from his bag, “Do you think we can eat these?” asked Logan, “I don’t think so,” said Laura, “Let’s hope we will not have to test it.”

After that, Laura would take her share out, and when Logan was not looking put it back to her bag. She knew that Logan would not let her starve, but she knew better that by eating the remaining food, it would run out soon. For two days, she just drank water, and then her water finished. The heat was killing them, it was vaporizing both their bodies.

On a noon, after their daily rest and lunch, Laura could not stand up, it was really hard for her to continue, “Are you ok?” asked Logan with a worried voice, “Yes, yes,” said Laura “It’s just the heat, I’m going to be alright,” she gathered all of her energy and started to walk.

After some time, she could not continue and fell on the ground. Logan came to her aid. “Let’s rest,” said Logan “We can continue later in the dark, it will be cooler then.” “But,” said Laura “If we stay we can’t get out of this desert soon enough,” “Soon enough for what?” asked Logan, Laura looked at him and said with a sad voice, “Before our food runs out.” “I know,” said Logan “But, you need to rest.”

Logan emptied his bag, he peeled off the papers of his book and made a fragile shelter over Laura, she was unconscious when his job was done. Logan brought some water from the river and threw it at Laura's face, but she did not move at all. He thought maybe it’s better to let her rest for now. She might be asleep.

After sunset, Logan shook Laura, she woke up and was amazed by the paper shelter on her top. Logan gave some food to her from the bag. He ate less than always and let Laura take the bigger share this time.

They could not continue their journey that night. Logan lit some candles in order to check on Laura during the night. The next morning, Logan woke up and saw the half-open eyes of Laura. The paper shelter has been destroyed and thrown away by wind the night before.

Laura woke up and prepared some food, she didn’t let Logan do it as she was always the cook. There was barely any food left for them, she gave a little bit to Logan and tried to eat herself, but she couldn’t. She knew her death was near, she could feel it, but Logan could have a chance and with every bite that she would eat, Logan would get closer to death too. After all, she also did not have water, Logan could live on the water from the river.

They walked for some time that morning. But Laura could not walk as fast as before. Logan decided to carry her but she wouldn’t accept, she believed this would weaken Logan. She tried her best to keep up the speed.

That day they rested more than usual for lunch. Laura could not bear the hunger anymore, then she started eating the last candle of Ubara when Logan was asleep. It made her feel better for a moment then suddenly she started to feel severe pain in her stomach. It was almost afternoon that they started to walk again. Not long after that Laura fell down again.

Logan took her flask and poured it with water from the river, Laura started to drink, but there was nothing in there to drink.

“You have to continue,” said Laura “I’m just a burden now,” “Shut up,” said Logan “I won’t leave you,” Laura took his hand and said with a serious voice, “Only one of us can pass, please go, I think you have enough food for two days.”

Logan did not answer her, he went straight to her bag to bring some food. Logan looked at the food, he was not sure, but it was as if, only his share of the food had been reduced from the last time he saw their supplies.

Logan looked at Laura, and she was already deeply asleep. He prepared some food for her and laid beside her, and fell asleep himself.

After the dark Laura opened her eyes. She saw Logan lying asleep beside her. She looked at the sky. Lots of stars were in the sky. The dim moonlight was lighting the desert. She thought if she could go back in time, for sure she would choose to do it all again.

She looked at the stars again. She remembered her father telling stories about the stars to her. He would say that her mother now is in the stars, that when we die we go to the stars and live there forever.

Her father used to say that one day we came from the stars and death is our way to get back to where we were before. Laura was not afraid of death, she could see her mother soon, and eventually, everybody she knew would join her up in the stars.

She turned her head and took a last look at Logan, it was heartbreaking for her to leave him alone, but he could continue his journey without her. She had to let him go, soon he would go to stars too and they would join together again. She had to wait until then.

Laura leaned and kissed Logan on the lips, and slowly let go, her lips softened but she didn’t lose the touch on Logan's face and her head dropped on the ground while still, her lips were touching his face.

Logan woke up and felt Laura’s lips on his cheek. He kissed her back, but she did not wake up. Logan got up and brought the food he had prepared for her, he shook her several times. He shouted at her, slapped her, but nothing could make her wake up. She was in deep sleep, forever.