The first time I saw you was almost 6 years ago now, remember? I went on a mission to find a camel and returned with a girl...you! I remember when I pulled up to your parents' car. It must have been a million degrees that day and there it sat in the middle of the desert. I ran up to it, seeing your parents sprawled across their seats, their skin burnt red, like they had been baked in an oven.
I yelled for them to wake up, but they would not move. I poked your mother, and I saw her open her eyes slightly as she whispered something so faint, I leaned in to listen.
"Promise you'll take care of her. Promise me," She choked as her fingers reached out to my cheek.
I looked at her in confusion as her eyes began to flutter. I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her.
"What do you mean?" I screamed as she opened her eyes again.
"Her name is Gemma. Promise you'll protect her always," She mumbled.
"I-I promise," I stuttered as I tried to gather what she meant.
That's when her eyes fell shut finally, never to open again. I felt a sense of panic as I watched her wither away. I had never seen people out in this desert. It had only ever been me. I couldn't figure out why you had been there, but I guessed it was a trip of some sorts.
I saw you moments later, tucked up in the backseat of their jeep, your body protected by the shade of the partial car roof. I saw that you were asleep as I moved back to access you.
"Gemma?" I whispered softly as I pressed my hand on your shoulder.
I saw you flinch as you let out a small gasp. You sat up, your face full of confusion.
"I'm here to help you, okay? Your parents left you in my hands. I promised them I would take care of you. You have to trust me, okay?" I said calmly as you nodded your head in response.
"W-we came out here because my parents study exotic desert plants, but we ran out of fuel. We've been stranded for days," You let out a long wail as I held you in my arms.
"I don't have much to offer, Gemma, but I promised to protect you, and I will. Do you trust me?" I asked softly as I carried you towards my old pickup truck.
You nodded as you wiped the tear that streamed down your cheek.
"My name is Ty. I won't hurt you, I promise. Just relax," I whispered softly as I set you in the passenger seat.
I looked back at your parents, their bodies seemed so lonely. I then looked back at you, knowing I had a duty to fulfill, and I would. For you Gemma, for you!
You were ten years old then. Six years later, you blossomed into a beautiful young girl. In those six years, I had taught you everything from geometry to construction to wildlife. You were like a jungle girl, or as I liked to call you...a "Desert Girl".
You knew everything about the Separates, the animals, the plants. I taught you to survive, to cook, and even how to braid your hair. You always put so much trust in me. I was patient and you learned fast. Your hair was so long and silky and looked like golden rays. You liked when I would braid it for you, humming as you waited patiently for me to finish.
I was barely eighteen years old when I first found you, but I knew I had the ability to care for you somehow, and I did. I learned what you loved and what you didn't. I sometimes found you laughing as you indulged in the comic books I had on hand, and how you would frown when they ended sadly.
I learned that I had to kiss your wounds in order for you to stop crying, and read you a book every night before bed. You enjoyed playing board games because you would always win, and I saw the glow in your face as you noticed my defeat each time.
Only last year, I had brought you outside to go swimming in the Separates and I could see the smile that always appeared on your face when I agreed to bring you.
"Ty? Can we ride the camel soon?" You asked as you scrambled to make your lunch, hoping to get to the water faster.
"She's almost tamed! She tried to spit on me today," I responded with a grin and we both began to laugh.
I worried about you all the time. Not about your happiness, but if I did the right thing by keeping you. What kind of life had I kept you from? I promised your Mother I would protect you, and I was in a way. The world is an evil place. I knew the only place you were truly safe was with me.
My fears grew as you aged. How would I explain the 'birds and the bees' to you? How could I answer you when you asked why you suddenly grew hair or noticed yourself growing breasts? What scared me was that you never asked about any of it. You acted as if nothing had changed, but I knew things had.
"The camel is so sweet. Do you think she likes me?" You asked, pulling your eyes from the book you were reading.
"She likes you more than me," I answered as I leaned back in my chair with a grin.
"Someone I know tells me I'm sweet," You smiled sheepishly, covering your face with the book.
I loved to see your smile, even the subtle ones. You were always smiling, too. It reminded me that you were happy here with me. I just feared that someday that smile would disappear when you realized I couldn't give you everything. I feared your life would be unfulfilled because I couldn't offer you anything more than guidance and friendship. You didn't love me THAT way.
You loved me as a guardian, a teacher, maybe even a parent. Would you feel empty without the love in your books? You were old enough to know that people fell in love, that they kissed, and had babies. All the stuff in between is what I was protecting you from. Those books never told you how Kathy really conceived the child. I never wanted you to feel pressured to love me that way, but then it all happened, didn't it? Just like that, it all unfolded.