Ch9
There are three small children standing in the shade of a beautiful oasis in a sea of desert. Two of them hold hands one an almond-skinned young boy with deep brown hair no older than the fair-skinned petite blond girl. An older boy who shares the same eyes as the younger one stands before them. The older boy turns to the younger boy and says.
"Do you accept the bride in your marriage?"
"I accept her in my marriage." The younger one responds.
The older boy then turns to face both of them and prays.
"Barak Allahu laka wa baraka alayka wa jama'a baynakuma bikhayr."
"May Allah bless you and have His blessing descend upon you and unite you in goodness." The older boy repeats in English.
The young girl blushes. They all begin to giggle and run off to play.
"That was so adorable." Says a female voice.
"Mom?" Sadie waking from her dream spoke.
Sadie, head pounding blinked trying to get her bearings in the cold darkness.
"Are you alright? …Sadie you are burning up!" Zul stated.
Sadie could not answer. Her head spun and she felt like she was on a rotating ride. Sadie tried to lift her head but that would require more effort than she had energy for so she closed her eyes. The last thing she heard was Zul's voice.
"Sadie you're going to be ok. Scheherazade can you hear me?"
Her mother's face appeared before her.
"I am sorry darling but it is time for us to go."
"But, I am married mommy. I can't go anywhere."
A warm smile crossed her mother's face, and her father appeared and gave her a hug.
"It is ok sweetheart. He will understand, and I imagine you two will meet again one day. If you two still love each other then you will no doubt be happy together again. Now it is time to go say goodbye. Do not forget to leave him with a smile; otherwise he might worry."
A sense of weightlessness came over her. A warm fresh breeze hit her and she slowly opened her eyes. She was looking up into Zul's face. He was carrying her. She tried to speak but could not. Zul looked down at her with a forced smile.
"You will be alright Sadie. Just get some rest."
Sadie eyes became heavy and she could not keep them open any longer. She felt cool water on her lips and on her forehead, before she was asleep again.
Little Sadie was now hugging the young boy.
"Goodbye Rose-Beauty." The small boy whispered in her ear.
He would not look her in the eyes. Instead he placed something in her hand. Sadie fighting back the tears gave him her best smile. It was the same smile she gave her parents, when they had to go on a trip that she could not. The scene then changed and then she is sitting in the back of a truck driving across the sand. Colorful tents stretched out behind the truck. As they drove away she watched them shrink 'till they melted into the shimmering desert. She looked down at the rose in her hand. Sadie smiled, though tears fell from her face and landed on the petals.
Sadie awoke gently crying, with tears on her face. She wiped back the tears, but there remained a pain in her heart of something she had long forgotten, and was trying to remember. Everything was much warmer now. Sadie opened her eyes to the sounds of birds calling from the trees. A damp cloth was on her forehead. She was in one of their tents. Sadie's head was less dizzy, and she slowly sat up. Every joint in her body ached; especially her wrist that she had originally hurt.
"Zul, are you there?"
Receiving no answer, Sadie lifted herself out of the cot, and made her way to the flap of the tent. She was thirsty and found a skin of fresh water hanging on a peg. Drinking it deeply she took in her surroundings. She was in camp in the same clearing they were in before the storm.
Zul must have had to carry me from the cave, and set up all this by himself. Oh my, I must have worried him so. I wonder where he is.
Sadie, feeling sticky from breaking her fever, walked to the water, and sank in to rinse herself off. The cool water felt like magic on her skin; and after smoothing out her hair, she went back to camp.
Zul was standing there looking panicked. Sadie came up from behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Did you lose something?"
Zul spun around relief flooding his face. He grabbed her shoulders.
"Are you are right?"
Zul placed his hand on her forehead.
"Don't panic Zul. I am fine." Sadie said trying to ease his stress.
"Sadie you have been in a fever for over two days!"
"Are you serious? Zul, I am so very sorry."
"Nonsense, it is nothing to apologize for. I just got back from bringing the boat around to this side of the island. I planned to take you to a hospital."
"Again, I am sorry, Zul. I put you through so much trouble and made you worry so."
Zul took his hands from her.
"It doesn't feel like you are still in a fever. Can you eat anything?"
"Do we have any of those fruits left? I do not think I could eat anything heavy right now."
They ate lunch in the shade. After they finished, Sadie wanted to head out while there was still sun left.
"We should get going. I have already caused us to waste so much time."
Zul took note of her complexion before responding. Sadie was still ashen, though she still looked much better than she did.
"No. I do not think I am feeling well myself. I have not gotten much rest in the past couple of days. I think I would like to catch up on my sleep."
"Oh, of course Zul, I should have realized."
"It is alright. You would have done the same. …I am going to take a nap if you will." Zul smiled.
"Can I get you anything Zul?"
"No, I just need to get some rest. Thanks."
Zul then got up and went into the tent. He did not think she was really in any condition to traverse a jungle; but had a strong feeling she would never let him know. He lay down on his cot, and soon exhaustion caught up with him, and he himself fell asleep. Sadie took this opportunity to pull out her journal and update it. She wrote details of all their adventure had led them through so far. When she began to note her dreams, she stopped. Sadie wondered about them and their relevance. Did they really happen or were they something she made up from all her experiences. Something pulled at her heart. They were too realistic to be anything other than a memory.
