up inside of me, but from the lack of water, they refused to fall. “I’m sorry mum,” I whispered,
“I’m so sorry.”
On the third day, after walking for hours, I could feel my skin peeling and I could feel the sun
sucking each drop of water left in my body out of me. Even though I was shaking all over and the
heat was so overpowering that each step felt like a thousand kilometres, I still kept walking.
With the sun directly on my head, my eyes felt like defying me, and began to droop
downwards. I shook my head. “Stay awake.” I told myself. Hesitantly, I forced my eyes open and
the sight before me was one I had never dared to imagine. My mum! I saw her waving at me from
a far distance. She kept on smiling at me and told me to come towards her. I tried to grab her
hand as I moved towards her but she started to drift away. “Mum, please…wait for me.” I cried.
“No!” I thought, “This couldn’t be a mirage!” But it was. Finally, as my shaky hands tried to crawl
through the sand, my body gave in to unconsciousness.
Thirst…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.
As hope left me, I heard the sound of roaring like that of a big propeller and noise of people
shouting. I pulled up my head but my eyes were greeted with the fierceness of the midday sun.
Then out of the white light, I saw a face with the most kind-hearted smile, “Don’t worry,” the
person said, “We have found you.” I closed both my eyes as the person held me in his arms; I
knew I was in “safe” hands…
