We walk through the invisible barrier. It shows a semi-circle of small modern houses with a pool and park in the middle. It's very.. simple.
In the corner of my eye I see a couple walking outside their house. The woman starts watering the plants while the male is barbecuing some steak. There are children playing at the park, so I assume the kids are theirs. One older girl and a little boy and girl. I didn't grow up with siblings so I don't know that feeling.
My father looks at my longing gaze at the family.
"Yeah, I wish our family was like theirs too. They look so.. perfect."
"Yeah.. well, we are on a mission," I remind him. He nods, and we walk behind the houses. It's a long field leading to a cave. I look at him, waiting for approval. He looks over at the cave and he nods his head.
We enter the mouth of the cave, and it gets dark very quickly. We are halfway into the entrance when a rock rolls over and closes it.
'Dang,' I whisper to myself, 'we should've been more prepared'. My dad hands me his phone and I turn on the flashlight. I've never held one, because my mother forbids it. I have to text people through my laptop.
We journey deeper into the cave, not knowing what to expect. The walls go from rock, to cobble, to dirt. I notice this.
We keep going, and we hear a stream of water. We stop for a drink, and its so refreshing. The water has this alluring smell where you just want to keep drinking and drinking. It's so.. addicting. I notice my dad is reacting the same way.
We stop drinking it, but my mouth starts drying up. Like, so bad to where my throat is crying dry tears. I gasp and I start drinking the water. It feels so cool in my mouth, so I stop drinking it. My throat starts drying up even more and I fall on my knees.
My father rushes over, and my skin starts getting pale. I feel like my body is drying up, like a prune.