The Desert and Sarah | Teen Ink

The Desert and Sarah

April 4, 2013
By Drac-in-Black GOLD, London, Ohio
Drac-in-Black GOLD, London, Ohio
16 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never apologizing for feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth." - Benjamin Disraeli


The sand was hot to the touch. Scorching. I scooped up a handful, letting the fine white grains slide between my fingers. I looked at Sarah, crouching beside me, more dead than alive. Her fragile, seven year old body was already deteriorating from the harsh conditions of the Rub' al Khali. Her skin was caked with clay, to protect her blistering skin from the heat. Her face was bright red, and froth foamed around a scorpion sting on her cheek. She needed rest.

I put my coat on the ground, a thick fleece that I put around Sarah's shoulders when It got cold and dark. Now it would protect her from the hot sand as well. I gently lay her body on the fleece, then took off my over-shirt, poured some water on it, and placed it over her face. Our tent had been lost to the malevolent sandstorm a few days ago.

I put my hand on Sarah's chest. It rose, then fell. She was alive.

"Daddy?" I heard her murmur.

"Shh, quiet. It's going to be OK." I forced myself to believe the lie, pouring water over her parched lips. She coughed, but the water went down her hoarse throat, which was all I cared about. I slowly and gently cleaned the scorpion sting as best I could with some more water. The water jug was half full. Or half empty, I suppose, but I couldn't look at the down side now. Not while Sarah was still breathing.

"Where's Mommy?" I heard her mumble beneath my wet shirt.

"Shh. Mommy's OK. We'll see her soon."

"When?"

"Later today maybe. Or tomorrow." That was the truth, most likely. I didn't know if I wanted it to be.

"I miss her," Sarah breathed.

"I know. Quiet now. Sleep."

I finished cleaning the sting, and sat down beside Sarah. I wanted to put my arms around her, hold her close, but didn't want to heat her body up any more. A forty year old man and his seven year old daughter, in the middle of the Rub' al Khali. It was only a matter of time.

I pulled my Swiss army knife out of my pocket and fingered the blade. I imagined slicing it across her throat, quickly, sparing her the agony of dying slowly, with blisters and hurt all over her body.

I put the knife away. I didn't have the strength. I was selfish.

"It will all be over soon," I whispered to Sarah, hot tears springing to my eyes. The sun glared down on us ruthlessly. An hour passed. Another. My thoughts slowly drifted back to the knife.


The author's comments:
When do you gain the strength to end a loved one's suffering? A short flash fiction.

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This article has 5 comments.


Mckay ELITE said...
on Apr. 22 2013 at 4:17 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

Keep at it. And I'm certainly interested in The Night Circus. Sounds cool.

on Apr. 19 2013 at 11:29 pm
Drac-in-Black GOLD, London, Ohio
16 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Never apologizing for feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth.&quot; - Benjamin Disraeli

Its ok. The longer the comment the better :) And thanks for the warm welcome. The Night Circus is an exceptional book, I highly reccomend it. Still haven't posted a lot on the site, but I will keep writing until something is published. :) Write on! 

Mckay ELITE said...
on Apr. 12 2013 at 2:47 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

and. oops. 

Mckay ELITE said...
on Apr. 12 2013 at 2:47 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

Apologies for the long nad tedious comment.

Mckay ELITE said...
on Apr. 12 2013 at 2:46 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

I love the ending. The story is like The Catcher in the Rye where there is no resolution conspicous to the average reader; but the avid and careful reader there's a message that is deep. You're very talented with flash short story fiction. It's a style I have yet to master. I'm too wordy as you can tell. By the way, welcome to the site. I was seeing that you're somewhat new. Happy to have you join a group of aspiring nonetheless talented writers. Also your taste in books, authors, and musicians is exceptional. I love each one of them, although personally I have yet to read Night Circus and 1984 and New Hampshire.