Fountain of Youth

The cicadas creaked as I traversed through the gloomy yet mystical forest. I had been on a long, unyielding journey. I had left behind so many for this legend, perhaps my harsh journey was to go to waste.

The leaves crunched under my shoes and the fireflies illuminated my dark path. I needed to find it. I needed to get it back to her. If not, then my efforts would have been in vain- completely useless. I needed to have this work, or those three years of travelling was worthless. Not only would I lose myself to a worthless journey, she'd pay for it with her life.

My younger sister, Sara, was ill, very ill. She was born several months early, and has been sickly since birth. Not once was she strong enough to go outside, much less walk. I remember her crying a lot, always asking her older brother to take her outside. She wanted to get better, but every doctor we brought to her told us the same thing.

"We don't know what's wrong with her, but I'm sorry to say she can never recover."

She could never recover, no matter what we did. If she continued on the way she was, the doctors were certain she would die before she could even become of age. I couldn't accept it, it wasn't fair. Why did she have to suffer? Then, I remembered the fairy tale my mother read to me and Sara. It told of the fairy king Oberon, and that he created a fountain that could give someone eternal life. That was it! That was my only chance. If I could just get the water from that fountain to her, she could walk. She could go outside. Even though my body was weary and tired, and the wounds that were inflicted upon me hurt and seared hotter than flames, I would get that water. Even if it killed me.

The path before me began to illuminate with a bluish- unnatural light. It was whimsical, so much so I had stopped in my tracks at the mere sight. It was beautiful, that fountain. Small glimmers surrounded it, my mind likened it to fairies. They swam around through the air and around me, one landing on my nose and taking me off guard.

I stumbled forward ungracefully, and my hands shook as I reached for my wooden water container. I popped the lid off of the cylinder shaped container, and dumped the water in it onto the ground. I began to rush, feeling as if it would disappear if I didn't hurry. I scooped up the water and sealed the container, relief showering down my body. I could finally go home.

I turned around quickly, the relief of my journey ending soon nearly sending me to tears. I abruptly thanked the King of the Fairies who created the fountain (despite his obvious absence), and rushed out of the forest with vigor. I ran for miles and miles, until I collapsed. I didn't touch that water or drink it myself, not even in the searing hot Sahara deserts or the nimbly freezing mountains. Not once.

The familiar village I knew from childhood came into view, and tears brimmed at my eyes. "Finally... " I thought, finally I was home.

I pulled what little strength I had left and bolted through the village and into our home. There stood my parents, and our little brother- Jean. I smiled and showed them the wooden container, their eyes lit up in surprise for but a moment, but soon fell into a horrified gaze.

"What's wrong? I got the water." I asked, looking down to see myself. I hadn't eaten or drank anything in such a long time, when was it I last eaten? I knew it had been a long time, but their horrified eyes spoke that it was longer than I thought. Following their eyes, I looked down. My body was covered in cuts and wounds, my clothes partially torn to reveal my excruciatingly thin body, my bones horrifyingly visible. I felt my strength weaken, the adrenaline and determination that drove me back home withering away quickly. I felt the pain as I hit the wooden floor of our home and saw even Sara moving towards me.

"Quickly, Sara." I said, desperately trying to keep awake. She needed to drink it, it would make her better. Please, just drink it.

"Drink it." I motioned weakly, she looked like she was about to cry, her amber eyes filling with tears. With the help of Jean she drank it, but motioned for me to drink some. However, it was too late, as the last of my strength abandoned my feeble body and I soon saw everything become white. The burning pain numbed and slowly began to vanish. The long anguish I felt for my sister ebbing away into a peaceful lull. 

I was showered with a great relief, finally, finally she could go outside.