Hope in the Gobi Desert
Dulwich College Beijing, Yi Xin Lee, Fiction: Group 2
T
hirst…hunger…the few things that I hate. “Please,” I whispered to myself, “I want to be
alive…” Slowly, I could feel the sand swallowing me as I began to regret my decision of
leaving the team...
Three days earlier, I was with a group of ten people on a research trip to the Gobi
Desert to look at how plants and cactus could grow in such harsh and dry conditions. That day, I
remember how the nervousness inside of me kept growing as I blinked at the large expanse of the
Gobi desert. This was it; my first trip to a desert. I promised myself that I would stick to the team
and never go off on my own. On the way to the campsite, I relaxed a little as I took in the beauty
of the desert. When the blue blanket of the world had turned an inky shade and the stars came out
to wink at us, we arrived at the campsite.
That night as I tossed and turned in my sleeping bag, I couldn’t get to sleep. The snores and soft,
sleepy murmurs coming from my fellow teammates did not help. Bored and frustrated, I fell into
the temptation to take a walk out from the campsite. “Don’t worry, “I whispered to myself, “I won’t
go far.” Suddenly, I heard a strange sound, like a soft whistling in the distance. I knew it would be
dangerous but I couldn’t resist it. I needed to know what that whistle was and, with my heart in
inner turmoil, I decided to go towards it. As I trudged cautiously across the sandy dunes, the wind
picked up and I felt sand enter my eyes. Irritated, I rubbed my eyes furiously as the wind that had
just moments ago been a dappling breeze, started to whirl violently. The sand that was carried along
scraped my skin viciously and my body had trouble listening to gravity. I coughed and put together
what was happening; the strong wind, the vast amounts of sand- I was in a sandstorm!
Helplessly, I looked around but all I could see was sand and dirt. I could see nothing beyond
five meters. Instantly, something caught my eyes; a rock- shelter! With hope rising inside of me, I
sprinted towards it and hid behind it. I pulled my hoodie on and covered my face, praying that the
sandstorm would cease. Hours passed and only when the sun was rising did Mother Nature grant
me relief; the sandstorm had stopped.
Weakly, I stood up and stumbled from behind the rock. I blinked the sand away from my eyes
and looked around me. Where was the campsite? I cupped my hands around my eyes and looked
further, but the sight was unfamiliar. The dunes had changed overnight, shifting and dancing
into a new landscape, and in that moment I knew that I was lost.
My heart sunk. “How am I going to get back to base?” I had no food or water. Swallowing my
own saliva didn’t help. I started shouting for help but the only sound I heard in the desert was my
own voice. I walked for a whole day but I didn’t know if I was walking nearer or further from the
campsite. Thoughts of doubts began to swarm my head like scorpions and a bag of hopelessness
settled and grew inside of me.
Night fell and I could feel my eyelids drooping. “Comfort,” I thought, “comfort.” A small
smile graced my lips as my thoughts turned to my mum. My mum - my source of comfort. I
remembered her kind, warmth and loving face. My tongue could vividly taste her delicious meals
that she would cook for me. As the night grew darker, I missed her warm hug and kisses. But I had
not always been grateful and had hurt her so many times. I wasn’t a good daughter. I wanted to
let her know how much I loved her, how much I would always love her. I could feel tears welling
