The Journey

"No, and that's final. You're too young to come with the army." The room fell silent, only the sound of Brother tightening his armor remained. I felt my face heat up in anger, who was he to decide whether or not I could go! He wasn't Mother or Father, they were dead anyways.

I saw him glance up at me from the corner of his eye before he gave out a loud tired sigh. I must've been unconsciously glaring, or as he puts it, pouting, at him.

"Look, Jasmine, you must understand that it'll be dangerous to come. We are facing an unknown enemy. Who knows what they're like, and I don't need my little sister dying on me." I stared at him, his face morphed into a pleading one. The candle flame flickered and danced an elegant dance with the shadows, and I made my decision.

"Fine, have it your way." I whirled around and stomped my way out of the room like a child, but I didn't care. No, I was too furious and worried to care about how I had acted. Too worried about what's going to happen to Brother because I know something bad's going to happen, a gut-feeling more or less. But I guess you can say that these things are like my 'special' talent. When I feel something's about to happen, it's going to happen, I just don't know what's going to happen. Brother knows this too, but he just won't listen!

I huffed in annoyance, just thinking about it is making me annoyed. You know what, who cares what Brother says, I'm going to protect him from whatever I'm feeling right now and that's final.

I readjusted my pack and tightened my grip on my camel, my stomach fluttering and squeezing itself in nervousness as I watched the soldiers began marching. Maybe this wasn't such a bright idea, after all, Brother can handle himself. Oh, what am I doing, I already packed everything, it's either now or never.

"Jasmine, where are you going?" A familiar voice pulled me out of my nervous thoughts. Her voice was soft, sounding more like a croak and if anything, made you wonder if she had been drinking any water recently. I glanced back briefly at the voice even though I already knew who it was. My eyes caught sight of the pale-faced old woman, a light blue cloth draped over most of her skin and had shadowed any that was still visible. I could still remember when her skin was a healthy chocolate brown when she was younger and had just taken in me and Brother. She was still young back then, but now, having grown old and frail, she could barely move a couple of feet from her bed. Her eyes had still remained that lovely shade of brown, somewhat resembling wet sand, and still had that playful spark. But right now, that spark was hidden behind her overwhelming concern.

I began to fidget with a small hole in my shirt, uncomfortable with her gaze and the lies I'm about to spill. Thinking about it had made my throat dry and a lump seems to have settled itself in my throat, stopping any half-decent lie I can come up with. "Um... You see... I mean..." I stammered out incoherent beginnings as my eyes were glued on the group of soldiers marching further and further away. They had eventually only looked like a small desert snake slithering across the vast sand dunes.

I took one last look at the kind old women that had taken in me and my brother in despite the how poor she already was, before faking a huge smile and lied. "I was just getting some water from the well, and you know how far away that is. Besides, since Brother is gone, I'll be the one getting the water so I should just stock up now."

Once the lie had slipped out, I noticed how unconvincing I had sounded, and she clearly wasn't very convinced. "Oh, well come back soon. We're having stew tonight." I almost sighed in relief when she didn't question me about it, but I felt my heart twitch in pain and disappointment, almost as though it had wanted her to stop me. I only nodded and gazed back at her as she shot me one last playful smile, before walking back to the hut. I had noticed that even with her walking stick, her shaky bone-thin legs could barely hold up her weight.