Sand was flying everywhere, piercing straight through my skin, like thousands of knives and
needles stabbing into me. My eyes were burning, my nose was breathing in nothing but sand,
my mouth filled with the gritty taste of it. I had no choice but to take my shirt off and wrap it
around my head. The sound of the wind howling was overpowering, horrifying and unforgiving.
I hunched up into a ball on the sand, covered my ears with my hands and waited agonizing pain
for the storm to end in.
The storm finally ended. The sky was already dark, the temperature seemed to have rapidly
dropped and I was shivering under my thin shirt. I checked my bag. All that was left was a small
mouthful of water in the bottle, my portable gaming console and another jacket. Yes, another
jacket! Must have been my mum’s idea. The first time ever that I appreciated her act of kindness. I
was feeling weary and weak. I really needed some rest. Before I knew it, all of my water was gone
and I was fast asleep on the coarse and rough sand, with my life saving jacket wrapped around me.
I was woken up by the sunlight that was blinding my eyes. I was dehydrating fast and all of
my water had been wolfed down the night before. I was feeling extremely light-headed. I suddenly
had the thought of ending my life, but how? I got up and continued walking.
I wasn’t sure which direction I was heading towards. I was just walking, not even caring
where it would lead my to. I saw something in the distance, or was it an illusion? Those weren’t
humans or animals, and stayed there stone still. “I’m never going to be saved” I said to the air. I
looked at the distance for one last time. I focused on it and realized it was water. “WATER! My key
to life and death,” I cried. I walked towards it but it seemed to distance more and more. The more I
walked, the further it got. When I realized I was never going to reach the water, I sat on the sand
and a tear rolled onto my cheek. I needed to get to the water. It was the only chance to survive.
I slowly crawled towards the water, not able to stand up anymore. Crawling was useless as the
water was fading away. “I knew it, it is a mirage!” I whispered. All of my energy was wasted on a
stinking mirage. I looked up at the blazing sun. I could not take it anymore.
My body stopped on its tracks and I was there lying on the sand, motionless.
I did not even think about my life, at that stage. I was thinking about my family. My mother
did everything for my own good, being supportive whenever I needed her, leading me in every
step of my life. My father taught me the most important lessons. He was the perfect role model.
My sister was undoubtedly the most annoying person in my life. Her humor added a lot of
highlights to my childhood. I missed my family. I should have cherished each and everyone of
them when I had the chance.
I used my very last bit of energy to say, “MUM! DAD! Please come and save me!”
Silence, except the sound of sand, the whistling of the sand.
That’s it, my life is going to end any moment. I closed my eyes, taking in the last moments.
That was when I heard something approaching me, fast and steady. I tried to yell out, but my
voice was all dried up and inaudible. The steps were coming towards me.
I couldn’t focus on anything, anymore. The steps were very near. The pace grew faster and
faster. That was when I blacked out. I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear my dad’s voice filling
up my head, “Son, the Gobi desert is a place full of danger.”
