I heaved in the attempt to breath, my chest rising and falling erratically in the glow of the orange light- I choked for the thin air, for the oxygen to replenish my exhausted body. I was laying, back to the cold sand, my face pointed to the darkness above us. My lips were parted, the blood had dried to a thick paste over my mouth from my, now, crooked nose- I picked at it with a shaky hand, wincing.
" Speak ...English-usted habla español?''
"uhh...no habla espanol....I speak English." I stuttered in reply, looking over at girl sitting next to me- her knees were pulled to her chest, chin resting on her arms. Large chocolate eyes peered at me, pulling me into her being- cinnamon skin, light and soft to the touch- a waterfall of black hair cascading around her. Her face was a small oval, her lips full and friendly, despite the current situation. I knew I was going to get along perfectly with her- my lips tugged into a slight smile, my features softening.
Next to her lay the pole; it shimmered a heavenly silver, dancing in the pouring light. Delicate patterns carved into the metal traced from the handle, flowing into a wave of silver fingers clutching at a the orange light. The orb bounced up and down, suspended in the air, the silver fingers were the only thing holding it to the earth before us now. I had never seen anything before, like the lantern before me now. It seemed to emit a pull from it, something that inlayed a curiosity in me that I just had to know.
"Name?" She asked, her tongue wrapping roughing around the forced words. "Maria..." ,She whispered pointing to her heart with gentle finger. She smiled weakly, her eyes melting the ice and the cold around us.
"My name's Sam. " I jabbed a hard finger into my chest and repeated, " Sam."
"Sam...Maria." She cooed to herself, eyes on the ground. A half smile playing on her tan lips. "Soy así que feliz haber encontradole Sam…."
I cocked my head at her, I hadn't a clue what just came off her lips, but that was fine with me. I wasn't alone. I was happy.