the punishing sun as I sat, happy to listen to the sounds of nature while I tried to clear my head.
Not long ago, I’d wished to meet other people on the island and now that I’d been exposed to them, I wasn’t sure I cared any more. Being on my own might just be the better option. I couldn’t get back to civilization fast enough. I didn’t know how I would cope if I’d been told that I’d have to live the rest of my life here. It would be worse than a life sentence in any prison.
I wondered how far away I was from Sapphire Island. Twenty minutes in the air on a fast moving jet and then floating for days at sea told me that I was a fair distance. I really was isolated. The next month was going to feel like forever.
I was in my own head in that moment so I didn’t hear anyone lurking in the shadows until they spoke.
“Hello, Dakota.”
“Daniel! You have to stop scaring me! My heart can’t cope. Make some noise when you approach, please!” I tried to sound lighthearted but wanted to get my point across. I had become so much jumpier since the accident. Any little noise seemed to fray my nerves.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize.” He twisted his hands in front of him, looking down. I couldn’t help but feel annoyed with myself for sounding upset at him.
“That’s okay. It’s just so quiet here and I wasn’t expecting any company. Here, why don’t you come sit beside me?” The large rock with its flat top was big enough for both of us.
He sat next to me but was quiet, so I opened up a little to try and get him to relax.
“I was just sitting here thinking about when I leave. Life on this island is a little too different for my liking. I’m looking forward to returning to all the modern conveniences life has to offer.”
That seemed to tweak his interest. Looking up at me with curious eyes, he smiled softly. “Tell me what things you have in other countries. What’s it like?”
I smirked at his naïveté, and went on, “We drive around in vehicles called cars. We have large cars and small cars, rich cars and poor cars. They are different colors, shapes, and sizes. You travel very fast in them and we use roads to lead us to different places. The cars are powered by engines and run on tires. You’ve probably seen them in the books you use to study English.”
“I have seen a few pictures, yes. Kind of like a boat but with wheels.”
“That’s right! There are millions of them, everywhere. Especially in big cities. Sometimes all the cars get stuck in a traffic jam because everyone is trying to go the same way.”
His face filled with expression. “Maybe one day I can visit you overseas and you can take me for a ride in a car. I’d very much like to go for a ride in one.”
“I’d love for you to visit. I think you’d like the modern world. There would be so much for you to do and see.”
The child was missing out on a whole world of fun and discovery. His aptitude was being wasted. There were so many opportunities passing him by. It pained and frustrated me big time. His quest to learn English told me he wanted to better himself and create a better life—after all, he had no use for English on the primitive island he called home.
It pleased me though that he was starting to trust me. I liked him and hoped that one day I could help him escape so he could go live in the real world.
“What other things do you have?”
I loved sharing my world with him. It also reminded me of what I was missing.
“Well, we have television and candy, and we eat animals, such as cows and sheep.”
His face screwed up. “What is candy?”
“It’s a sweet, delicious food that we’re not meant to eat too much of, but most of us do anyway. It leaves you craving more. It’s filled with sugar and puts holes in your teeth. Then you have to go and have someone called a dentist fill the hole.”
“Then why do you eat it?” He was too smart for his own good.
Thinking for a logical reason, there was
Not long ago, I’d wished to meet other people on the island and now that I’d been exposed to them, I wasn’t sure I cared any more. Being on my own might just be the better option. I couldn’t get back to civilization fast enough. I didn’t know how I would cope if I’d been told that I’d have to live the rest of my life here. It would be worse than a life sentence in any prison.
I wondered how far away I was from Sapphire Island. Twenty minutes in the air on a fast moving jet and then floating for days at sea told me that I was a fair distance. I really was isolated. The next month was going to feel like forever.
I was in my own head in that moment so I didn’t hear anyone lurking in the shadows until they spoke.
“Hello, Dakota.”
“Daniel! You have to stop scaring me! My heart can’t cope. Make some noise when you approach, please!” I tried to sound lighthearted but wanted to get my point across. I had become so much jumpier since the accident. Any little noise seemed to fray my nerves.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize.” He twisted his hands in front of him, looking down. I couldn’t help but feel annoyed with myself for sounding upset at him.
“That’s okay. It’s just so quiet here and I wasn’t expecting any company. Here, why don’t you come sit beside me?” The large rock with its flat top was big enough for both of us.
He sat next to me but was quiet, so I opened up a little to try and get him to relax.
“I was just sitting here thinking about when I leave. Life on this island is a little too different for my liking. I’m looking forward to returning to all the modern conveniences life has to offer.”
That seemed to tweak his interest. Looking up at me with curious eyes, he smiled softly. “Tell me what things you have in other countries. What’s it like?”
I smirked at his naïveté, and went on, “We drive around in vehicles called cars. We have large cars and small cars, rich cars and poor cars. They are different colors, shapes, and sizes. You travel very fast in them and we use roads to lead us to different places. The cars are powered by engines and run on tires. You’ve probably seen them in the books you use to study English.”
“I have seen a few pictures, yes. Kind of like a boat but with wheels.”
“That’s right! There are millions of them, everywhere. Especially in big cities. Sometimes all the cars get stuck in a traffic jam because everyone is trying to go the same way.”
His face filled with expression. “Maybe one day I can visit you overseas and you can take me for a ride in a car. I’d very much like to go for a ride in one.”
“I’d love for you to visit. I think you’d like the modern world. There would be so much for you to do and see.”
The child was missing out on a whole world of fun and discovery. His aptitude was being wasted. There were so many opportunities passing him by. It pained and frustrated me big time. His quest to learn English told me he wanted to better himself and create a better life—after all, he had no use for English on the primitive island he called home.
It pleased me though that he was starting to trust me. I liked him and hoped that one day I could help him escape so he could go live in the real world.
“What other things do you have?”
I loved sharing my world with him. It also reminded me of what I was missing.
“Well, we have television and candy, and we eat animals, such as cows and sheep.”
His face screwed up. “What is candy?”
“It’s a sweet, delicious food that we’re not meant to eat too much of, but most of us do anyway. It leaves you craving more. It’s filled with sugar and puts holes in your teeth. Then you have to go and have someone called a dentist fill the hole.”
“Then why do you eat it?” He was too smart for his own good.
Thinking for a logical reason, there was
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