Story clips

# 7

The desert sun was scorching hot, reflecting off of the sand and into my eyes. My feet were wrapped haphazardly in a pair of makeshift shoes torn from the fabric of a tarp long since used up. The rest of the thin material was pulled over my head, brown locks dotting the corners of my vision, my hands turning white where they clutched the edges of the tarp on my head. I've been walking for hours, stumbling up and down the sand dunes like a lost puppy. My muscles screamed at me, begging me to stop. But I couldn't succumb to my body's will, or it would mean certain death. I had to struggle forwards, climbing the crest of the hills, digging my toes into the sand for some sort of stable ground, pushing my body to the limit. It seemed all was well while at the tops of those hills, and I could stay in that spot forever. Alas, everything must end at some point, and I knew I could not stay. I needed to struggle onwards. So I let myself stumble down the slopes, knowing that I would get to that high point once more. Isn't that what life's all about? Struggling to walk across the hot sand, the low points, only to work towards our peak? But we still must move forwards, for we are not yet at the Oasis.

    The Oasis. I can see it now, as I crest another hill. Only a few more dunes to go. I wanted to collapse from exhaustion, but I knew I couldn't. Not with salvation so close. My feet felt numb, blisters undoubtedly forming. My feet fumbled over each other, causing my body to crash into the sand. The sand burned at my skin not covered by clothing, sending shocks of heat up my arms. The tarp protecting my head had long gone, and the sun began to heat my scalp.

Get up, you need to get up.

My legs shook as I straightened them, yanking my hands away from the heat that burned them. I took deep, shuddering breaths as I brought myself back to a standing position, my body wavering slightly. The Oasis was closer now, the dunes evening out to flat sand, rolling like waves. My feet slipped as I scrambled to keep myself from falling once more, widening my stance to keep my balance. I inhaled sharply, feeling the sand burn through the wraps that were falling off of my feet. I rushed forwards, towards one of the last dunes, using my hands to scrabble over it, trying to ignore the piercing pain of the hot sand on my skin. My breathing heaved at the top of the hill, staring down at the slope of it. I blinked wearily, looking back up towards the Oasis.

Just a little further.

I took one step down, the sand folding under my weight, causing me to stumble down to my knees. I hung my head gently, gritting my teeth against the sun that was now burning my scalp and my legs. I shuffled gently, lifting my head and pushing myself back up quickly, using my hands to push the ground away when it threatened to meet me again. I rushed forwards, shuffling over the tops of the smaller dunes, feeling one of my feet wraps unwrap. The sand was unsteady, my body wobbling with every great step I took. I took my last burst of energy, pushing myself closer to the security of the Oasis. Trees for shade, water to hydrate, a cure for all ails that this horrid desert caused. It grew closer with every slip of my feet, with every breath I took. And finally, I was safe. My body collapsed by the bank of water, scooping my hands into the cool liquid. I drank it quickly, some dribbling down my chin as I praised what seemed like the first drink of water in ages. I splashed water on my face, shakily looking around me and smiling, relishing in the protection from the harsh sun.

If you wish to change the world, you must go through the harsh sands of time, enduring the ups and downs. You must prevail, and get to the Oasis at the end.

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A/N

This is a writing prompt from school, thought it would work here.