Stranded Heat

Hot it felt hot.

I remember the feeling of blistering heat, my skin on fire, my throat raw and my lips cracked and caked with blood and salt, I remember the sun, like a big yellow ball in the sky, I almost half expected it to start rolling down the sky. The sky was a sickening pale blue and cloudless, the heat was unwavering and relentless enough to feel like a burnt bake potatoe. I wanted to shield my eyes but my arms felt like led, even now laying here I couldn't move I felt so defeated so lost, lost within my mind it was my only escape. My clothes were torn, shredded from the rough terrain and drenched in sweat. Everything went on like this rest walk rest walk but each step I took was useless I was surrounded by nothingness in a wasteland that was foreign to me. My legs shook and felt numb and ached all the same my body locking up and I fell my body crushing against rough rocks, the edges of my vision blurry and darkness devoured me.

I remembered a cool feeling suddenly sweeping over me, then there was shade, a dark figure standing over me, their voices drowned out by the inky darkness threatening to devour me.

I felt hands both suffocating and warm enveloping me, carrying me as I was weightless and limp in their arms, my eyes were tired as they tried to flutter open catching quick glimpses of a blurry face, I gripped at his arms and my voice rasped out . I felt something cool against my lips, the voices murmured again and the words drifted though my mind drink slowing. The cool liquid found my lips as I clawed at the bottle taking in as much as I could as the bottle was pulled away and I was wrapped in something heavy. I was laid down in something soft and dry, I felt sluggish when I passed out again my heart was pounding as my mind tried to figure out what was happening right now and silence answered, no explanations came to mind no answers to my questions I was too exhausted to ask my self I just wanted to sleep.

Darkness was all I could see my eyes wouldn't open but my mind screamed at me to wake Up to go get up but I was shushed by a calming feeling and a strange warmth spread through my hands to the tips of my fingers, I felt weak. When I woke up my eyes felt tired, light streamed in through the blinds by the bunked beds I was in and the window. The world past by outside in a blur, we were moving. The mattress was soft and I was covered in a dark blanket tucked into my sides an ice pack over my head and a hot wet rag at my side the top of the bed was wooden and pillows were stacked under my head. Everything hurt everything ached everything was sore I couldn't move and my voice gave out when I tried calling out into the empty space around me.

Out of the emptiness there was a man, he's hair was dark and wild and eyes a deep set blue, long eyelashes and thick brows he's gaze washed over me as he searched me. He's pale hands grabbing at the rag at my side as he brung it close to my face, my voice rasped out as I squeak. His voice comic as he spoke "finally awake huh". He sighed deeply " I'm so glad I was scared you wouldn't wake up." he seemed so familiar my eyes searched he's features pale skin and dark curly hair, eyes cobalt blue and lips pink, lean and a thick accent Irish accent.

I looked at him weakly, " I know you".

He's thick dark brows shot up, "you do?." he seemed surprised almost. " who am I?." and when the question registered I couldn't answer, he looked so familiar I had to know him but my mind fought me as I came up empty handed. The rag came across my cheek came away with sweat and dirt, "I don't know, I've seen you before I know it." my voice hitched at each word, it hurt so much to talk to do anything really to even be awake. He looked at me again pulling away his hand, and spoke again quietly in an hushed whisper, " you should rest, we can sort this out when you get your strength up." I nodded solemnly as my eyes grew heavy again when I slept I had a strange dream that felt so real.

I was out in the heat again, endless desert was at every side of me, fire and dirt and blood and gash on my arm and a cut across my forehead. Every step was a fight every breathe was a fight to stay alive my lungs burned a long with my throat and legs, I was walking for what seemed like hours. Dirt whipping at my ankles stinging my arms and leg's, my shoes sticky and blistered from the heat as they left slimy footsteps in the burning tar of the sandy road. What was I doing out here, I didn't even know my sandy hair tied up messily falling out of it's band and my shirt torn at the sleeves. My thermal jacket long discarded and my tan shorts and belt felt too heavy for my thinned out body so I tightened it. How long had I been out here walking, my own tongue felt like a rock in my mouth and my skinned sun burnt and scaly from the punishing heat, from the unforgiving sun.

Who had I been before this moment before this dream before the sun before this place before that man, I didn't know all there was, was this moment in time being endlessly trap in desert and nothing else a blank slate tortured with endless hot days and anguish. Like flashes in the night images filled my senses, I seen people I couldn't place people I didn't know, seen places I don't remember, Who was I?. When I finally opened my eyes, my head felt mucky, the room felt like it was spinning, it was much darker than before, a single light illuminated the long narrow room dimly from the hallway of the front of the bus. The man busied himself with a can on the table beside him, his long nimble fingers wrapped around a can opener. The sound of metal ripping flooded my ears as he poured a thick soup into a bowl, my mouth felt so dry as it struggled to water. Every movement felt so familiar, the way he moved, the way he spoke like a bell ringing in the darkness I knew this man, seeing him now that I regain some of my strength my heart fluttered as he turned to me, a dark maroon bowl in hand. Our eyes met for a moment like an ocean washing over me he looked at me with eyes I knew in my heart. Sitting up so fast was a bad idea, my body shocked with the sudden movement a sudden jolt of pain shot through my arms and side. He's ivory skin peaked through his t shirt tracing every line I panicked. What the Heck, my mind squeak, he gave me a funny look as I sat upright, Where am I?.