The Desert Blaze

The days grew cold and the nights were longer as summer was closing and winter nearing. People know summer because of the heat and winter because of the cold,but fall is a very special season to me because of my friend named Autumn. She is definitely an independent, strong-willed young lady. We met back in high school six years ago,and we were such became such friends that I can't believe we weren't brother and sister. We wanted to stay together, so we both applied to Florida State University and were accepted. It was great to know we would have four more years of being able to hang out and not be separated due to going to different schools. When we reached college we were both so excited to see the many special activities FSU offered that we could do together. The school offered an amazing trip to the Egyptian pyramids.  I liked the idea. Going to a country and learning about the ancient rituals. Walking through massive pyramids where Pharaohs had ruled intrigued me. However,  Autumn said she didn't think it was so cool. It actually surprised me because we enjoyed so many of the same things. Both of us had always found other civilization fascinating.

Jokingly, I said, ''you're right it's hot there and it might mess up your hair.'' She laughed at the joke but I could tell she was still worried, so I reassured her that I was not going to let anything happen to her. When the day finally came for us to go I could tell she was worrying again, so I gave her a hug and told her it would be alright. I looked at my watch because it felt like we had been flying for hours, but we had only been flying for thirty minutes. Autumn had fallen to sleep but I decided to read a book that I brought about people getting lost in the desert. I woke Autumn up to show her the book.

All she said was, ''Lancer Psycodell you are so immature.” What she means by Psycodell is my last name is Psydell, but she thought Psycodell sounded better since she thought I was insane.

I said, ''Don't start with me Autumn Mirage.'' She always stops after I say that because when I first said her last name,I pretended not to notice her like if she were only a mirage. We had been flying over the desert now for about three hours when the pilot announced that we would be arriving in approximately, an hour. So I just kept my face in my book. Suddenly, the plane shook with great force as if there was an earthquake in the sky, and when I looked out the window my heart felt as if it had stopped. The engine was on fire and we were losing altitude quickly. People were screaming and panicking and then another jolt occurred. I knew I  had to do something to save myself.  I grabbed a parachute that I saw earlier on the plane and tried to get to the door. I suddenly realized that Autumn was still in her seat. I looked back and saw she was unconscious. I went to get another parachute noticing that everyone else seemed to be passing out as well, but there was nothing I could do for them. I put my chute on and put Autumn in hers and when I got to the door we were less than one-thousand feet from the ground. I opened the door held on to Autumn and jumped from the plane. It was then that I realized that if I pulled my cord first I might loss my grip on Autumn due to the force of updraft lifting the parachute, but if I didn't pull mine now it might be to late.  Even though I was afraid I might die,  I knew I had to save Autumn's life. I pulled the cord on her chute and she began floating instead of falling, but would I be able to pull the cord on my chute in time to save myself. I quickly pulled hard and my ripcord and was so thankful to see the parachute open. I realized I just barely eluded death. The descent was quick and as I reached the ground I watched to my amenity, that Autumn's parachute had opened properly and she was landing. I ran over to her side to see if she was okay. To my relief, she appeared to only have superficial cuts as the sand had cushioned her from a hard landing on the ground. When she came to, she asked what had happened, but before I could answer her, there was a big explosion. I looked over to where the plane was falling and before my eyes watched a giant ball of fire fill the air. I felt sympathy for those people on the plane, knowing that no one could do anything for them now. Autumn was in tears, partly from her heart breaking for the lost lives, but also from the fear brewing inside of her wondering if we would survive the ordeal. After I explained what had happened to Autumn she got up off the ground and began to walk toward the crash sight.

''That was where the plane was going, so the pyramids are that way and so are people who could help us.''

''That is a very smart idea especially under all the trauma that you just experienced.''  I said.

We began walking toward the flames and soon we arrived at the crash site. The wreckage was devastating and there were definitely no survivors. We knew we needed to keep walking, but soon it became imperative that we get water because we were very dehydrated. It had been about two more hours and we couldn't find anyone anywhere. We felt as if we were about to repose on the sand. We knew we needed to rely on each other. This wasn't about being independent, it was about helping someone you care for get through the ordeal. Together we could give each other strength to keep going and we didn't stop. We saw a very big sand dune ahead and Autumn wanted to walk around it, but as exhausted and dehydrated as we were I knew the fastest way was up and over.

I said, ''We might be able to see the pyramids from up there.''

We had been talking and trying to laugh while we walked but it was getting more difficult as the desert sun was relentless. Finally, we reached the peak of the dune. I was nonplussed to see the pyramids. We had survived what could have easily been a tragedy, and we did it because we put the other person's value in front of our own. I carried Autumn off the plane and her wit and strength carried me through a place that could have taken my life.  As we arrived at the pyramids, people had already known about a plane crashing in the desert but no one had expected any survivors. People rushed around us asking questions. It was like a sandstorm of words but Autumn and I were so dehydrated and exhausted we couldn't even speak. A person who said her name crystal asked us to follow her. She took us to a quiet hut style home and gave us water and food. She tended to Autumn's wounds as well. After we rested, Crystal asked us to go for a ride with her and though we had never met her, we knew we could trust her. She drove us to the airport and bought our tickets for us to return home. We told her we could never thank her enough for her kindness.

“Life is about helping others. Loving on people when they cross your path even if it is for a short season. Being strong and independent can be great qualities, but also lonely ones. It's when we give of ourselves to lift each other up that we are strongest.”

Then she said her goodbyes. She was an uncanny woman and we knew she was our oasis in the desert. We were so happy to be going home and from that moment on we depended on each other more. We both saw spring in the distance.