The Star Over My Heart
Stranded on a desolate island, with no help in sight, but there is still hope.
Three of us. We are the only ones left, the only ones to make it to the island. The only people in this long-lost world we knew nothing about. We are going to have to learn how to survive with each other, and it is not so great because the people I’m with, I think they hate me. But what am I to worry, I cannot see their motives, even though their actions show that they might just feed me to the sharks and could care less. I know, they are holding guilt right now. The others, well, they’re gone, and I think they are sorrowful for losing their friends. Or most of them anyway. I know nothing about these people, I barely even spent time with them. Most of the time I saw them staring or scowling on the boat, the boat that’s now sunken, with the rest in the deep.
We sank deeper into the lush island, and the sun also sank with us. We watched it fall along the horizon, just as our tears fell, or more, theirs. I felt anxious, and we built shelter, under the falling, burning sun, all the way to the rising moon. And my spirits rose, as I watched my newfound friends, smiling at me. These people, whom I thought hated me, now their eyes, burning with compassion. Perhaps, it will be okay. I just hope we survive this desolate island.
The night was of ease, we laid our weary heads down on the makeshift pillows of soft, furry leaves that we found nearby. I watched the stars flash above, through the hole in the makeshift hut that we made. For one moment, I was assured that we would make it out all right, maybe.
The next morning came by slowly and went even slower. I suppose the reason was the somber-looking, gray clouds that showed the sign of promising rain. I was hopeful, we surely could not drink seawater, and until we found a source of freshwater, this would have to do. The coconut bowl that we broke open earlier this morning. The amount of toiling that it took to get one coconut open was unreasonable. But, we did not have the right gear to do so. But we learned, and I used my pocket-knife skills to make some tools from fair-sized branches that had been lying around. Hopefully, it will save us hours of breathless moments, trying to beat open a coconut.
And as the sprinkles fell from the clouds, I was standing here, ready to sacrifice our only eating dish. We would have to survive off of eating with our hands and washing off the sticky juices of tropical fruits that were safe to eat. I carry much knowledge and memory of the textbook we read about foraging safety in the tropics. I set the bowl on a lean-to of sticks to raise it up higher, so that no animal would get in it. I sat in the rain for countless moments, slumped on the sand, feeling empty in this isolated world. It was hard to tell whether the drops on my face were the rain, or rather, my tears.
I ran, through the dew-covered forest, feeling like a kid, with my soul uplifted. The other two were behind me. I wondered why they did not join in the happiness. The happiness of the sunshine in the water drops, sparkling all around us. At that moment, I couldn't care less about the others. I felt as though, it was all about me, and no one else. I ran over to the star fruit trees and other fruit trees that we found the other day. We gathered much fruit and ran back to our home, at least it was for now. On our way, we discovered a dozen coconut trees situated right near where we had our shelter. It was magnificent. I quickly grabbed the tools I had made and drilled into the furry coconut and down into the shell. The coconut cracked into a jagged, half. And we rejoiced and did it ten times more. We sang on our way back, we had enough bowls to last many moons, though I did not think we would stay here quite that long.
Even though the sun was sinking, my heart was not. I was excited to explore this haven that we found. I planned that we would venture to the other side tomorrow. As the sun was almost down, we heard a loud blow of a horn. Quickly we scrambled, knowing that we could not lose this chance of help. We all knew how to start fires with this little of supplies, and we quickly did so. We had a fire blazing in minutes. I swore I could see that boat on the horizon.
Clearly off-course, and coming towards us, was a big cruise boat. They gladly welcomed us on board. We quickly worked together to extinguish the fire and gathered on deck. Even though I was sad that we had to leave this desolate island, I was glad to be going homeward. Home. And I will not forget this place of compassion and love. I will forever name it down in my heart Starfruit Island, for this was because the star fruit, was the first fruit we ate, and this island was the star over my heart.