The echo of the people singing began to get louder, and louder until suddenly it came to a halt, “Why would they just stop? Does someone know I am here?” I asked myself. As I began to descend down the hill I began to get worried, what if someone has noticed me? They couldn’t have, I am too far away, there is no way they could-- I was stopped by the blaring sound coming from this horrid object, it looked like a speaker, but I’m not sure exactly what it is, even after all of the years of precision of language, I couldn’t think of it.
I was trying to figure out what that object was when suddenly I came back to notice a rock in front of the sled, and it we were in perfect alignment with it, I tried to turn the sled, but it wouldn’t move, the only thing on my mind now was surviving, and keeping Gabriel alive, I wouldn’t come all this way to be stopped at this point, not now. As our sled collided with the rock I clutched onto gabriel, protecting him with every part of my body. We slammed into the ground and I rolled, and rolled, I tried to stop, but I couldn’t. The pain was nothing to me now, I just accepted it, the only thing I needed to do was keep Gabe safe, but he was slipping from my grip.
We finally came to a halt, and I felt relieved until I noticed one thing, Gabriel had slipped from my hands, “Gabe!” I yelled again and again, until I heard the faint cry of the small child. I picked up Gabriel and he was shivering, now, the only thing I wanted to do was keep Gabe warm, no matter the cost. I wish the Giver would’ve given me more memories of Warmth, but he didn’t, and it took every last bit of what I had to send it to Gabe, I could feel the heat course throughout my veins, and into the child, and instantly Gabriel stopped shivering, I clutched onto him and gave him what little warmth I had left in me. “It’s okay Gabe, everything is going to be alright, we’re almost there now, just a little bit more” I had told the child time and time again, I’m not even sure that he needed to be told that, but it was me, who needed the reassurance that we were going to be okay.
As I trudged through the deep snow I could feel my legs throbbing from the crash, but I couldn’t stop now, not this close to the community where we would have help. The lights from the community began to get brighter as we reached near the community, the colors were brilliant and bright, red and blue everywhere, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, after being in the bland white because of the constant snow being rushed into our face but it was worth it, the colors made it all worth it, every last bit of it, the constant hunger and the tiring walking, but he knew now that he would make it, as he was what seemed like feet away from the entrance of the community, he powered through the pain and reached the towering walls surrounding the community. As I approached the large, grey doors in front of the community a loud banging sound rung throughout my body, I jumped from fright, but it was the doors of the community opening. My stomach began to churn, I am hoping that the people here are as nice as I had previously hoped.
When the doors to the community opened, I was greeted by three people, all dressed in an odd attire, one was in a tunic, but that wasn’t bad, she had dirty blonde hair, and brown eyes, the other was wearing a black shirt, with another one under it, I found that odd, the second shirt he was wearing was white, together they looked nice, he was wearing more black cloth on his legs, I found it odd that they wore clothes like that, but I was taught not to judge, so I didn’t. The third person resembled me the most I believe, he was wearing a black and blue top and something over it that covered most of his head, I thought it was funny, he had black cloth on his leg as well, he had eyes like mine, they were very light colored and looked odd. “Welcome to the community, my name is Luke, I will be guiding you throughout our society, any questions?” I was shocked by how kind the people were, but I was so weak, I was so thirsty, and hungry, that I couldn’t push the words from my mouth, instead I collapsed to the ground, and slowly everything faded. “Quick! They need assistance! Get them into our house, quickly we don’t have much time!” Those were the last words I heard before I felt their warm hands against my arm, pulling me up and dragging me into the community.
When I had awoken, the boy from before was walking by and noticed I was finally awake “Hey, how are you?” He asked me, “Fine, thank you.” I quickly replied, “where is Gabriel?” I asked “Who? The child?” Luke asked “Yes, the child. “Don’t worry, he’s alright we brought him to the medic, he’s still with him.” Luke had replied back to me. I was completely fine now, knowing that Gabriel will be okay, and we had made it here, after the months of pain, we have made it to the place we had only dreamed of, where people are able to do, see, and hear what they please. No more sameness, no more cluelessness, these people had memories, and they shared them all, the good and the bad.
I was finally back up to strength not long after waking up, so I had decided to go find Gabriel, I was hoping he was making as good of a recovery as me. When I had finally arrived at the Medic station, I first asked to see Gabriel, and they showed me the way through the winding corridors and led me to the small room where Gabe was being tended to, it was larger than I had expected, but not much was in the room, there was a screen with a video playing on it, there was a sink, and other things that I have not seen before.
When I saw Gabe he was brightly colored, and was resting so I softly whispered “We did it Gabe, we made it.” For the first time in months, I wasn’t just saying it so I knew that I was okay, but for the both of us. I decided to take Gabe with me, so I slowly picked him up, and began to walk away from the room and away from the building. Once I had exited the building I began to notice the lights, and truly how amazing it was to see so much color in one area, to hear the noises the Giver had once shared with me called music, and to see everyone talking amongst each other and be happy. As I walked passed the large crowds of people, I was smiling from joy, knowing that I will start my life as a normal person, and not have to have the largest honor either, but for once, I can finally live a life amongst the other citizens. Before I enter the house that Luke has let me stay in I can’t help but ask myself, is there anything that this community is hiding?
