land, clouds of dust rising from its awakening. Its roots thrashed about, coming towards them
violently. Rene looked unfazed. On the other hand, Kaiden seemed paralyzed, a frightened
expression plastered on his face.
Rene plucked a pink-colored fruit from its branches, and inspected it before offering it to
Kaiden who took it gratefully. Rene smiled softly at him, and caressed his cheek. He could feel
his lips moisten. “Don’t lose hope. Don’t forget that I’ll always be here for you.” she said gently,
holding her husband’s hand soothingly, “This tree, is strong, just like you, I know that. Don’t give
up. Go ahead and push through the difficulties, just like how this blossoming tree has grown from
a dry, arid land. Know that I’ll always love you, Kay, but life has to go on.”
“Wait, what?” Kaiden asked, “You’re leaving me?”
“I’ll never leave you, I’ll be right here, with you.” Rene placed her hand over his heart and
planted a kiss on his forehead. “Remember, don’t lose hope.” She stood up and walked towards the
blinding lights.
Kaiden awoke to many tanned faces looking down at him, speaking in a language he could
barely understand. It was the tribal people whom he had made friends with days before. “Kaiden!”
cried his friend, Amir, rushing towards him. ‘Oh, I thought you had died when you suddenly
disappeared yesterday!” Noticing his swollen leg from the snake’s bite, he widened his eyes and
said, “God, you’ve been bitten by a snake? We have to get you to the woman doctor in the next
village. You’re quite lucky that it doesn’t seem like a poisonous bite. You could have died.”
They heaved Kaiden up, who whispered a faint thank you at them, knowing that for now, the
desert had given him a renewed hope to live on.
