The moment I saw the camp again, I finally realized that having faith in the future eliminates despair.
Day One
Last year’s adventure was an unbelievable memory that I will never forget. During the summer break, my friends and I went to the Sahara desert. The endless sky, the extremely bright sunshine and the spotless sand dunes that attracted my full attention fascinated me. Out of curiosity, I left the camp alone on the first night, which proofed is a bad idea. As I hiked the expansive sand dunes, I felt happy and free as was evidenced by the humming tunes produced from my mouth. The view below the moonlight produced a clear shadow that followed my every move. I walked on a straight path making sure that my footprints were visible. However, the desert winds that made into my eyes gradually erased every trace of my trajectory. After about an hour of consistent winds, I lost my sense of direction and made the conclusion that I was lost.
Day Two
Facing the boundless desert, I felt a desperate isolation and emptiness. Towards the horizon, the sky was blue and purple with only small strips of clouds yearning for water but ending up vaporized. The Mountains of sand were glittering silently yet hiding their might deep underneath, leaving silver strips of sands that the air was blowing thereby forming ripples on the surface, creating an impression of a golden-like lake at the heart of the Desert. The complete silence with the occasional sounds of wind creeping into my eardrums was suffocating. When the black curtain of the night gradually sealed the sky, I increased my speed because deep within my heart, I was afraid of the darkness and loneliness created by the expansive desert. I knew that lingering for more than a minute meant reducing my chances of survival. At night, the temperature drastically dropped thereby freezing everything. The atmosphere was very cold, such that it initiated severe vibrations in my body, causing the movement of all my body parts. It created a scene that was similar to a shivering sheep left out in the cold. In fact, my lips turned purple, while my legs became numb.
After a night of trekking, I was exhausted and confused, with no idea of my possible location in relation to our camp. Dawn had set in, and the desert insects were hastily finishing their desert hullabaloo and heading home; deep into the sand. I started searching for any creatures under rocks and sand; then suddenly, a huge figure came into my sight. It was a big lizard about two-feet-long, with a blue tongue flicking out of its mouth. Although the animal's shadow looked like a giant dragon, I garnered enough strength to overcome my fears that brought the hope of survival.
I ran after the lizard with all the strength that I could generate. I could hear my heart pounding heavily. Every step I took brought a sensation of pain throughout my body. My eyes could not withstand the burning sensation from the rays of the sun, while the skin looked torched. Additionally, the cheeks became hollow, and I could smell the odor of sand melting in the heat. I tried my best to catch the lizard's tail, but the wild animal proved to be a hard task to complete. As I tried to hold it, it turned around and bit my finger, causing blood to flow out of my body. However, I did not relent as I held it with my other hand and gathered enough strength to break its neck bone. Surprisingly, the creature immediately became quiet. I tore away its rough skin and started eating its raw meat. At that moment, I felt like a predator enjoying its meal.
As the sun went down, I knew that I had to continue moving, although I was too weak to stand. In desperation, I used my hands and feet to crawl. Sometimes the winds blew the sand towards my face, while the extreme temperatures and arid air tore my skin apart. "You are going home, and you will not die in this desert" I encouraged myself.
Finally, just when I was about to give up, I saw a familiar camp which had a bonfire in the middle. I struggled to turn my flashlight on while waving my arms. My last memory in the Sahara desert was of a group people running towards me.
Final Chapter
I woke up three days later, with my mother sitting next to my bed. Tears flowed out of her eyes as I opened my eyes. I had deep feelings of regret and guilt because I knew that I had caused great pain both to my parents and to friends. I gave my mother a hug and fell back to sleep.
My friends have always told me how incredible it was to survive in Sahara desert for three days. I do not know how I did it; maybe it was by pure luck. Throughout the whole experience, I never thought of giving up. I always believe in life, future, and the ability to achieve impossible missions. I have learned to remain calm in the face of difficulties. Finally, I believe that one should keep trying, and good things will happen.
