Unbearable Thirst

At sunrise newlyweds wandered from camp hiking into unfamiliar terrain. And now they have to spend the night in the desert despite their unbearable thirst. The sweltering heat of the day lingers as the sun sets just behind the mountains. And darkness merges with inky shadows pooling deep within the cooler crevices. They dosed off to the mumbled whisperings of windblown sands rippling across the dunes. And though their canteen was nearly empty there had to be water somewhere out there. Her husband asleep she filled his canteen and took the empty one to find water. And although she swore no tears, they still came not for her but for the man left behind. Wakened by the searing kiss of the sun he realized the selfless thing she’d done. And though he looked for her she was long gone so he followed her tenuous footsteps. He found her collapsed, exhausted and near death and they shared the few drops of water left. Yet in the midst of death's dusty embrace angels in helicopters rescued them.