A World Buried By Lies

12

The highway stretches endlessly before us, a ribbon of cracked asphalt that seems to lead to nowhere. It's day two, another day of relentless sun, and Ravi and I walk side by side, the weight of our backpacks a constant reminder of the world we carry with us.

"So, Ravi," I begin, breaking the monotony, "how about a game to pass the time?"

What the hell was that? Why are you so awkward?

He flashes a smile, and for a moment, the harsh world around us seems to soften. "Sure. What kind of game did you have in mind?"

I grin at his openness to the idea, the thought forming in my mind. "How about... 'Two Truths and a Lie'?"

Ravi chuckles, the sound another brief moment of levity. "Alright, you go first."

I think for a moment, then begin, "Okay, here's mine: I once won a writing contest with a story about the apocalypse, I jumped into a pool filled with dolphins at a zoo, and... I used to have a brother."

A brother. What the fuck, Astra?

Ravi raises an eyebrow, feigning deep thought. "Hmm... I'm going to say the lie is the jumping into the dolphin pool."

I can't help but laugh. "You got it. I thought about trying but they had rails all around the pool and the security were watching pretty closely."

"Okay, my turn... hm... Alright, alright. I used to have an awesome Golden Retriever named Max. My friends and I built a tree house when I was eleven which became our favourite place to hang out, and... Oh! That bicycle that I got on my ninth birthday. It was a blue and silver BMX. Man, I loved that thing."

"Hmm..." I think aloud. "Geez. Yours are hard... um, the bike thing? Yeah, that was your lie."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "No, I really did have that bike! It was my absolute favourite thing. I used to ride it around the neighbourhood for hours."
"Wait, so which one was your lie?"

"The dog one. I always wanted a pet, but my parents would never let me and my brothers get one."
"You had brothers?"
"Yeah." He chuckles slightly. "Three. One of them was my twin."

"Oh... wow." Is all I can muster. I can hear the twinge of sadness in his voice, and it pains me so much I feel the ache in my heart.

He turns his head in my direction as we trek, "you had a brother too?"

I drop my eyes down to my scuffed boots. "Once." I reply curtly.

Understanding glimmers in his eyes, and he doesn't push it. Little does he know, my brother isn't someone I miss. He isn't someone I ever knew.

I sigh.

We continue past the subject, sharing stories and revealing secrets about our pasts. With each round, our friendship deepens, the walls we've built to protect ourselves slowly eroding.

As the day wears on, we come upon our first obvious obstacle—a river blocking our path. It's a raging thing, flowing through a deep cut across the highway, erosion slowing widening its mouth. Its swift current too dangerous to ford.

"How the hell did this get here?" I ask.
He shrugs and stares at the water, his brows furrowing. "We can't go through this. We'll have to find a way around."

I nod in agreement, scanning the riverbank for any signs of a bridge or shallow crossing. "Let's split up and see if we can find a safer route."

We separate, each exploring the riverbank in search of a solution. The sun is hanging low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the landscape.

My heart sinks as I walk along the water's edge, finding no suitable crossing.

We search for a long time.

After what feels like hours, I spot Ravi waving from a distance. I run toward him, hope rekindling in my chest.

"Any luck?" I call out as I reach him.

He nods, a triumphant grin on his face. "I found a fallen tree upstream. It looks sturdy enough to use as a makeshift bridge."

Relief washes over me as I follow him to the fallen tree. It spans the river, its trunk wide enough to walk on. We test it cautiously, and to my immediate relief, it holds our weight.

Ravi turns to me, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Ladies first."

"You must have me confused with someone else. No ladies here." I say with a chuckle and begin to cross, carefully placing one foot in front of the other. The river roars beneath us, and my heart races, but I keep my focus on reaching the other side. Heights have never been an issue for me.

Ravi follows close behind me, offering a reassuring hand when I stumble. I grin when we make it across safely, our shared triumph warming our spirits.

As we return to the highway, our conversation turns back to lighter topics, the obstacle we faced now just a moment in this adventure.

"So," Ravi says with a mischievous grin, "what's your favorite food?"

I don't hesitate. "Pizza. Extra cheese, pepperoni, and lots of garlic."

He laughs, a sound that feels like music in the midst of all the desolation. "Good choice. I'm a fan of burgers myself. Juicy, with all the toppings."

We continue to talk and laugh, our bond deepening with every step. It's in this moment of camaraderie, amidst the challenges of this life, that I realize how much I value this boy's presence, the presence of another soul. In a world filled with uncertainty and danger, he's a friend, a companion, and maybe a source of strength.

As the sun dips below the horizon once again, we make camp for the night, our laughter echoing in the darkness.

When the fire in front of us is a strong blaze. I sit down, and unlike the past few nights, I don't sit across from him but rather next to him. He doesn't seem to care.

We stare into the fire, and I have a sudden stroke of boldness.

"Did you ever... I don't know, have a girlfriend or something before?" I ask with a dumb shrug as he lifts his brows at me.

He laughs a little. "When I was thirteen? No. But there was this girl who always used to ask me for my phone number at school. I didn't even have a phone," he finishes with a shake of his head, chuckling lightly.
He tilts his head towards me. "You?"
I give a small shake of my head in response.
"Man, couldn't the apocalypse have happened a few years later? We missed all the fun."
"We sure did."

He turns to me, his gaze suddenly intense. "I mean... there's always a certain degree of fun to be had isn't there? No matter how dire the situation?" He says almost... slyly.

And now I'm definitely blushing.

Our eyes meet.

Despite the obstacles ahead, I know that with Ravi by my side, I have someone I can rely on. Just like the stars, Ravi is a beacon of light in the darkness.