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The boy does not know how long has he walked for. Or what is he walking for. His throat is as dry as the sand beneath his feet, hard and sturdy. His knees accompany the waves away, sensation fleeting, eyelids heavy, ragged breaths.
He collapses.
Eyes open. There is nothing. No sand, no ocean waves coming and going, no light.
Hands in the air: he cant see them. Its as if he never even opened his eyes.
All is dark, all is lost, and the boy wonders if anything has changed. All is dark, as he stands up, shoulders tense. Straining his ears, searching for something, anything, to prove that he is still alive.
Blind, deaf, he takes a step into the sturdy ground, lost at sea. The boy stretches his arms into the darkness as another step is taken, and another, and another. He is blind, deaf, but he can still move, so forward he goes. Mindlessly.
But then there is the man. Silent, calm, with a warmth on his gaze only found in early sunrises mornings. His wrinkle-filled face creased towards boy, whom could not see what the man saw. He stood paces away, unsure the boy would reach him.
Full blown pupils in the pools of the boys eyes. His breaths had not steadied, but he walked as if. He searches, knowns not for what. Is this a dream? purgatory? The only certainty he has is that this path must end.
A low, weathered voice speaks: "There is still ground beneath your feet. Come on boy". The younger one goes rigid, and he suddenly notices the puddles that filled his path.
"Who are you?" Firm, the boy shouted to the darkness. Almost like talking to an unyielding wall.
"I am you".
The boy does not move. The man sees, but he cannot reach.
"What does that mean? Where are we? Can you see anything?"
"It means that i remember you as clearly as I see you right now." The man studied the boy. "There is no place to go. There is nothing here."
Shoulders went limp, eyelids tired. Tired, tired, tired.
His eyes finally give in, and the boy is blinded.
he is thrown back, attempting to block the light. Eyes closed tight, he falls butt-first into the moist ground.
Despite the blazing beyond his eyelids, the boy spots a sillhoute.
"I know. You'll get used to it in time."
The boy opens his eyes and is welcomed by the nothingness once again. He is resigned; there is nowhere to go.
"There is nowhere to go. Not here." The boy sees it now, the timber of the mans voice resembles his own, and so, he gently lets the light in.
"Yes." Hopeless "I dont think i can keep walking any longer. I dont want to do this anymore."
Recognition dawned on the old man. Memories flood, with each blink; each glimpse of the darkness, but there is nowhere to go, so he snaps into focus.
- It is not fair to you. But there is a light beyond, you just have to hold on for a little longer. Just walk a little further and youll find me.
"What if I cant get up no more?"
"You will never know whats in the light then. Come on, boy. Time will pass either way. The war wont end, the diseases will still infest the fields. But you will cherish and love, and be loved back. Light is fleeting, but it will find its way to you".
The boy's face goes blank, his body slack. As he relaxes onto the ground, he knows he will not remember the old mans words.
The waves slide in, pulling him back to reality. Waves slide out, and he can now hear blaring voices everywhere.
The light forces him awake.