The Island

I had a dream. I dreamt that I was on a boat floating in the middle of the sea. My boat was made of wood and it had a small white sail. It was not as sturdy as I would have wanted it but it kept me afloat. I was scared and I had no direction. Until I saw an island. 

"That's where I am heading...", I said to myself.

I was determined to get there. I rowed like crazy and prayed. I begged the wind to take me close enough to the island to allow me wade in the shallow waters (I do not know how to swim!). I finally found myself on dry land.

"Good job...", I said to myself.

I started exploring the island's white sand beach. It seemed deserted but there were signs that some people have been there before me. Right smack in the middle was a single coconut tree. Near the tree, I saw embers. 

"Someone was just recently here...", I thought.

I tried to familiarize myself with the surroundings. There were broken bottles everywhere. I saw blood stains.

"Somebody must have gotten hurt..."

I chose a spot under the coconut tree. I sat down and took in the warm sea breeze. It felt good.

"This is my island now...", I proclaimed.

*******************

Days passed and I was still on the island. The lone coconut tree bore fruit every single day and that provided me with the nourishment I needed to survive. I slept well on the island and felt right at home.

"I will build my home by the coconut tree.", I resolved.

Slowly, I built my own little nook. I kept myself busy by picking up the broken bottles scattered on its beach. I tried to tidy up the island. But there was one problem: quite interestingly, the embers just would not die. 

*******************

I cannot recall how it happened but I woke up one day and found myself back on my small wooden boat floating away from the island. 

"What the fuck? What happened?", I asked myself.

My boat was drifting away fast. The breeze was pushing me away from dry land. From where I was, I saw the embers burning brightly. 

"Shit, somebody must have reclaimed my island while I was sleeping..."

With all the strength I had, I rowed back to the island. But with every stroke, I felt a weaker. The wind was blowing hard and the waves were pushing me away. I later found myself back in the middle of the sea. I was on my boat again with no real direction. I was weak, scared and hungry. I missed my small nook beside the lone coconut tree. I missed my almost tidy white sand beach. I missed the whole island experience. 

*******************

God must have heard my prayers because I woke up one day and I saw a coconut floating within arms reach. 

"I must be near dry land again...", I whispered.

I looked around me and I once again saw my island from afar but it was now on fire. I closed my eyes and prayed for rain. And rain did come.

"Thank you for sparing my island...", I whispered.

*******************

I found myself rowing back to my island. With me was the floating coconut.

I know a lot has changed since my last visit...

... but I am hoping against hope that my nook would still be there

... for I have carved my name on the lone coconut tree

... and as long as that tree lives, I will be there.

Blogger's Note: I wrote this post to take my mind off my technical paper which, by the way, I finished writing (with room for editing later on), as promised. Wooohooo!!!