It was still dawn when Nilo is already sailing in his small boat. It was still pitch black, but it is the perfect time to prepare and cast the nets for fishing. Two hours from now, the sun will come out then he must go back to the shore to prepare food for his family. Nilo looks at the island he grew up in. It was dark, and there are only a few lights that can be seen from the Island. Life there is hard and poor. And then he looks around and saw from afar the Island of Ilayo. Unlike the Island of Wamali, the Island of Ilayo is always bright because of the lights from all the houses. It is like the stars from the sky are going down to the Island of Ilayo making it twinkle and shine at night.
"They said Ilayo has treasures, and the fireflies are guarding it that is why that island twinkle at night," said Filoi, his childhood friend who always comes with him when he's fishing.
"Isn't it the lights from the houses that make the Island twinkle at night?" he replied. "No, I saw it. It is the fireflies!" Filoi said reassuringly.
"How come? You have never set foot outside our Island except when we are fishing." Nilo said that made Filoi roll his eyes.
At the back of Nilo's mind, he wanted to believe that it is the fireflies that shine at night on the island of Ilayo and that there are treasures on that island. "Let's go there and find treasures," Nilo said while looking at the island.
"Are you sure? We have never set foot outside our Island just like you said!" Filoi said. "Well, it is never wrong to try," Nilo said and hauls in the net and starts paddling towards the shore of Wamali.
It was 6 AM when they arrived and as always, his mother and his little sister is waiting happily for him to arrive. After getting all the fish they catch, Nilo told his mother about going to the Island of Ilayo.
"But it is very dangerous to cross the horizon, and you never know the danger that awaits you there." His mother said worriedly.
"Mother, if I find treasures in Ilayo, it could turn our life so much better," Nilo said. "Will you leave us?" his mother said.
"I'll be back," said Nilo.
Nilo and Filoi started sailing towards Ilayo. And when they arrived, they are shocked by what they are seeing. It was not the fireflies or the lights of the houses that makes the island twinkle and shine at night, but the fire coming from the bonfires outside the huts. There were no treasures nor lights, but just bonfires to keep people warm at night. Life is much harder here. Now, Nilo and Filoi have realized that it's family, and being content is the greatest treasure in life one could ever find.
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(A/N)
I won first place in a contest in our school (Short Story Making) with this piece.
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PLAYFUL WORDS
by love_xixi
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Playful Words
Science FictionPlayful Words is written by love_xixi and contains different short stories compiled in a single book. A book where you can find distinct stories with messages, lessons, and approaches. You can find here stories that you'll definitely like and could...
