A morning awakened after a week had passed. The day Rose died had remained like a dark night, yet afterwards, the lives of the remaining people returned to their old cycle. It was the doctor who still carried the sorrow of Rose's death within him, though only slightly. That morning, Francis, Daniel, David, Juliet, and Daryl set out together into the forest. They had gone early in the morning to hunt and to collect water.
Walking in front were Francis and Daniel. Even though a week had passed, no rescuers had yet appeared on the island. Some had already begun to lose faith. On the shoulders of those who went into the forest, small cloth bundles could be seen. Inside them were bottles meant for collecting water. Francis and Daniel together prepared a trap.
Only the two of them remained near the trap. The other three, without wasting any time, went into the bamboo grove to collect water. Some time passed like that. Silence weighed heavily over the forest. The only sound was the rustling of leaves falling in the wind, and even that came only occasionally. None of them had yet shed their fear of the forest, but they had begun to grow accustomed to its silence.
"Life is such a strange thing, isn't it, Francis? Death is everywhere. Yet the reason for our life being saved might be hidden within something as small as a bamboo stalk or in the cover of a trap." The two of them were hiding behind a tree.
"You are right in what you said, but nature never shows us mercy. It was we who found water inside the bamboo, and it was we who set the trap to catch the wolf. Here on this island, we continue to live only because of each of our own persistence. Which means, it is we ourselves who sustain our life." Francis took a breath and then continued.
"Here on this island, all of man's dreams and emotions dissolve. All that remains is one truth."to live,somehow."Francis' words
astonished Daniel again.
"You are right. Our emotions and dreams hold no value here. The only thing that has value is our life itself, and if that is lost, then dreams and emotions have no relevance at all." The two of them continued their conversation. It was the sound of the trap snapping that drew their attention in that direction. This time, what had fallen into the trap was a rabbit. But this time, the number was double. Because of the trap's heavy impact, the bodies of both rabbits had been completely crushed. The color of the two rabbits was black. At that moment, those who had gone to collect fresh water from the bamboo finished their task and returned to the trap's side.
Without wasting much time, they walked toward the shore with the rabbit they had caught. Along with them, their fragile hope of survival walked as well.
Martha's Tent
Wendy Bird approached Martha's tent.
"Martha… could you step outside for a moment?"
Hearing Wendy Bird's voice, Martha came out of the tent.
"What is the matter?" she asked right away.
"How's your grandmother doing now? Has the exhaustion eased at all?"
"There's no real improvement. The fatigue hasn't lessened in the slightest. Most of the time she just sleeps. She only wakes up to eat, and afterward, she lies back down again." Martha explained softly.
"Would it be possible for me to speak with her?"
"I don't think that would work. Grandmother is in deep sleep right now. If she's woken, she'll start complaining about the body aches again." Martha voiced her refusal politely.
"Alright," Wendy Bird said with understanding and quietly returned to her work.
It was around 4 in the evening.
Inside his tent, Francis was busy shaping a small ball using the tape he had in hand. The last one he had made was already worn out, so his plan was to craft a new one.
Once he finished, he stepped outside and handed the ball to Max. She had asked him to make one for her, which was why Francis had used the tape she had given to create it.
Max thanked him warmly, then walked straight over to Joseph. He was inside his tent, idly passing the time.
"Can you play ball with me for a while?" He refused at first, but at Max's insistence, he caved.When they came out, they stood on either side, keeping some distance. Max threw the first ball towards Joseph. As the ball approached, he held it in his hand.Joseph threw it towards her slowly, as far as Max could catch. A small smile began to appear on his face. Maxine managed to make his face look happy. But the rest of the group was watching Joseph's actions.They played until they were tired. Max took the ball and put it aside to play later. Joseph went back to the tent to rest from the fatigue of playing.
Night covered the island. They finished eating together the roasted rabbit meat. Since the meat was less, to satisfy their hunger they also ate the fruits plucked from the trees. Martha, taking her grandmother's share of food, had already returned to the tent before everyone else. After putting out the fire, all of them went back to their tents.
Night 10:30 PM.
The night's wind was silent, drifting occasionally like a breath through the leaves of the trees. Inside the hut, Darryl lay awake, eyes open, unable to sleep. To catch a bit of the cool breeze, he picked up the torch in his hand and stepped outside the hut. The moon shone dimly in the sky.
"This cool wind gives my mind a little relief." Suddenly, his eyes fell on Martha's hut. She was standing outside. Seeing him, Martha came closer. Darryl noticed her eyes trembling in the night wind.
"What's this, Martha, standing outside? Can't you sleep either, just like me?" Darryl brought a smile to his face.
"How can I even fall asleep, Daryl, when this night feels so heavy?" She drew in a slow breath and let her voice out again.
"Do you know how hard it is to sleep alone? Once my grandmother falls asleep, she doesn't move a bit. I have to protect her from all these dangers. My mind keeps recalling the accidents of the past days."
Daryl sat on the ground. Martha had come beside him. Daryl turned off the torch. The moonlight was more than enough to brighten the island.
Breaking the silence of the night, she began to speak.
"Sometimes it feels like if I sit close to someone and talk, my mind will be at ease. Daryl, have you ever been afraid thinking about the future?"
"About the future... if you ask whether I've been afraid, then surely I have.
'What will be ahead,' 'What will be lost'.,such thoughts always come into my mind."
"I feel the same. But tonight, it isn't fear that rises inside me, it is the feeling that I need someone to lean on." Daryl looked at her.
"What you are saying, I too feel the same. I thought it was only me who felt this way." Martha lowered her head. Her voice was trembling slightly.
"When I sit close to you and talk, it feels as if the weight inside me begins to fade, Daryl." A small smile spread across Daryl's face.
"Life changes so quickly. Until yesterday, everything was in my hands, but the moment I came to this island, everything I had was lost. But you are here by my side." Martha spoke as she looked up at the moon.
Daryl drew in a cold breath.
"Martha, I don't know much about you. But knowing you feels like something I need. Perhaps, here, you may already have become someone dear to me."
Martha's body trembled slightly.
"I wanted to say what you said. But I didn't get the courage for it."
Their conversation moved deeper. Questions and answers were filled within silences, and there bloomed a friendship.,and an emotion beyond it.
At last, their eyes became locked with each other. The weight of the night and the emotions that had settled within their hearts finally merged into one. Daryl reached out and held her hands. She did not pull away. Martha slowly closed her eyes. Daryl brought his face closer to hers, pressing his lips against hers.
That kiss was not long. But it had a thousand words to say. When the kiss ended, both of them stood silent. The wind heard only their silence. Martha started to speak in a soft and low voice.
"Today I don't wish to sleep alone."
Daryl heard her words and nodded. Then he raised his voice and said,
"Me too."
Both of them entered the hut. They disappeared into the darkness of the night. That night they slept together.
To be continued.....