A Journey Home

The hot, dry sand burned beneath the soles of his shoes as he shuffled along the gravel road. He stared into the distance, lifting his hand to shield the gleaming sun beating down on him. It had been five days since he left that hellhole and if the little birdie was right, he would reach his destination within the next day. The days were brutally hot and the nights were cold - he wasn’t prepared for that. Not that he was prepared for anything about this journey.

About a month ago he found out his wife was having an affair. He didn’t leave her as she had expected he would. He forgave her instead. Her lover wasn’t happy about it, so one day he invited David for a walk. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a carriage came speeding past, grabbing him. He tried to fight and struggle, but they tied him up and drove off into the desert.  They must’ve been hours out of town when they stopped. They grabbed him and threw him into a hole about five metres underground.

He looked around and saw some crackers and water stacked around him. He yelled for someone to save him, but soon darkness fell. He realised what had happened and fell into a heap of despair.

The first few days were torture, he searched for a way out every minute, but it was impossible to get out except through the opening – which was five metres from the ground. He had to preserve the food and water for as long as possible, but he was unsure of how long it would last. It looked like it would only last a few weeks at most. All he did every day was wake up, take a sip of water, have a piece of cracker, look for a way out, have a piece of cracker, drink a sip of water, sleep – every day, for weeks.

Then one night he thought he had dosed off, but suddenly everything looked foggy and something right beneath the opening sparkled in the moonlight. He blinked a few times and then got up to see. He started digging with his nails into the hard ground and finally retrieved, what was to him, a treasure – a spoon, a fork and a knife. It baffled him. Why would someone bury utensils? Then suddenly a smile stretched across his face as he realised what this meant.

With no time to waste, he started digging into the left wall of the room. He could either dig straight and then up or attempt a staircase of some sort. He decided he would try stairs.  He knew it could take him more than a week to get out, but he was determined to make it, especially now that he had tools to dig. The thought of getting out of the pit fuelled his emotions, his anger, towards his wife and her lover. He just wanted to get out of there, find them and teach them a lesson! He dug even faster.

Soon he was tired and had to rest. It took a lot of energy, energy he didn’t have. After he had slept a few hours, he got up and carried on. The sooner he could get out, the faster he would be able to make them pay. Revenge burned inside his heart and his mind.

As he had expected, it took him a little more than a week to reach the light. The relief he felt was indescribable. It was almost painful and his eyes brimmed with tears. He blinked wildly at the bright sun and gasped at the fresh air. The moment was unreal – he couldn’t believe he was finally free!

A second after he emerged from his hole, a little bird landed next to him. It hopped a little closer. David thought maybe the bird wanted some crumbs or water, when it suddenly spoke: “Now ain’t that a fine day! Just look at that – bright blue skies, hot yellow sun, and fresh air! But you…you look like a mess! You know that?”

David frowned and rubbed his eyes – was he dreaming? His heart dropped as he realised this could all just be a dream. He opened his mouth to scream.

“Yes I’m real and I’m talking.” The bird ruffled his feathers, “Now listen up! You need to travel east.” The bird flicked his head to his right, “…the nearest town is five days away.”

“How are you talking to me?” David asked, “Why should I listen to you?”

“Because you need guidance…and I’m a guide.” The bird cleared his throat and gave a chirp. “Anyhow, I’m off! Good luck.” He swooped off in a rush.

David sat there for a few second trying to make sense of this absurd occurrence, then he got up and started walking east - well what the bird indicated was east at least.

Since he left that place, he dared not look back. He felt a presence behind him…someone or something following him. He figured it hid behind lone standing boulders and bare trees to keep from being seen. But he felt it crawling after him – thirsty, hungry and tired – just like he was.

One day away from his destination, he stumbled upon a man and his horse grazing in the shadow of a hill. The man was leaning with his back against a rock and the horse was chewing some dry grass. The man looked up at David as he passed and raised his hand, “Hold up there, sir,” he said.

David stopped and looked around, unsure.

“Why are you in the middle of the desert?” the man stood up and slowly walked over to him chewing a piece of dry grass.

David licked his lips, “I…I…uh…” he wasn’t sure what to say.
“You not sure why you here, mister?” the man asked.

“No I know why I’m here…I just don’t know if I should tell you. Who are you?” David flicked his chin at the man.

“I’m Juan Ricardo. I travel this desert frequently; I know who comes and who goes. Now…who are you and why are you here?” the man asked again.

“I’m David and I was kidnapped and shoved in a hole for months. I escaped about four days ago, west from here.” He swallowed.

Juan glared at David suspiciously, and said, “Well I heard something like that sometime ago…” he hesitated, “Someone’s been following you.”

David frowned, “How do you know?”

“I can sense it.” The man searched the desert, “Why were you taken away?”

David dropped his head, “My wife had an affair with a man in our village. I forgave her, because I loved her, but her lover had me kidnapped and thrown into the pit. They’ll pay for what they did to me, as soon as I reach that town!”

Juan slowly shook his head, “Tsk, tsk, tsk…you can’t continue this journey any further.”

“What do you mean?” David frowned.

“Your soul is stained with resentment. Vengeance oozes from your soul like puss from an infected wound. If you want to continue this journey, you need to put your spirit to rest.”

“But…how?” David shrugged.

“Forgive of course! You need to let go of your anger. That thing that’s been following you is your spirit. It’s weary and needs to be refreshed. You’re the reason it’s that way. It cannot find peace if your soul is tainted with hate.”

David fell to his knees, “I don’t know how!” he cried, “My life is ruined because of them.”

“No, just the opposite. You have a second chance – a blank page. Just let them go,” Juan said, “Say it out loud, it’ll make you feel better.”

David sobbed and took a deep breath, “Out loud?” he frowned.

Juan put his hand on David’s shoulder, “Listen, it’s just you, me and my horse here. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Just get it off your chest.” He stepped back.

 David put his hand on his heart and lifted his head to the sky, “Martha, I forgive you and that man for the heartache you have caused me.” He slowly exhaled and stood up.

“How does it feel?” Juan asked.

David managed a smile, “Much better.”

“David, I’m glad you made it here.” Juan smiled proudly.

David wiped the sweat off his forehead, “Where is here anyway?”

“Come.” Juan said, “I’ll take you to the place you’re searching for in this dry desert.” He got on his horse, “You and that spirit of yours.” He grabbed David and lifted him onto the horse.

A smile spread across David’s face, “Thank you.”

So he reached his destination a little faster. It was a strange town, David thought, with a massive iron gate. “How am I supposed to get in?” David sighed.

“You’ll have to go towards it, knock and when they ask, give them your name.” Juan said.

David frowned, “That’s strange.” But he got off the horse anyway and made his way to the gigantic gate and knocked three times. The peephole suddenly opened and a man asked for his name.

“David Nazir.” 

The man disappeared for a few seconds and then said, “You may enter.”

Suddenly the gate opened and a loud groan thundered throughout the quiet forsaken desert.

Only a small gap opened so he could enter. Before he went inside, he turned to greet and thank Juan Ricardo, but to his surprise, the man wasn’t there. So he shrugged and turned back. He felt relieved – the anger inside him ebbed.

It was a strange town, like nothing he had expected. There was one long pathway that led to a house on top of a hill. There were no other people around, except the guards at the gate. It was a magnificent place – the garden was paradise.

When he reached the house at the top of the hill everything seemed abandoned, but he knocked anyway. An old man answered the door and let him inside. As his foot touched the wooden floor, the whole place changed into a white and gold city. There were people everywhere, laughing and talking. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He went up to one of them, “Excuse me, where am I?”

The man chuckled, “You’re in heaven of course.”

The End