Anna and Eden weren't exactly the type who could befriend each other.
Anna: "You know it's rude to keep saying you have apologized, that would only decrease the value and the sincerity of your apology."
Eden: "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to keep up with you when you're like this. Yeah, you help me, I get it and I'm thankful but you've been shoving it to my face, I know I'm a loser to you."
Eden's voice became lower.
"But you really don't have to do that."
Nodin: "Hey! Stop it, both of you. We all are under so much pressure but we can't waste our time on arguing. Don't you know we have to get out of here and find someone to treat you? That little girl, who's sleeping silently needs a roof over her head, a safe house where she can relax, but here we are wasting our time on trivial matters. Relationships are important but considering our condition we don't have the luxury to quarrel on them. We don't have much food with us, we don't have much water, we don't have medicine. We don't have fuel. So stuff it all."
They didn't say anything in response to his scolding. He was right. They knew they were acting like children.
No!
They weren't acting like children. Children are way more mature than them.
Even though one was a mother but when she got angry, nothing could reach out to her mind and she would act harshly. The other was a spoiled son who had just got out of her mother's wings. And the other man, who was younger, knew the way of the world. If he hadn't accompanied them at that moment, maybe they wouldn't have gotten farther from the start.
.
.
.
Silence had swallowed everything. Instead of fighting they decided not to talk. If it meant reaching their common goal, they could forget each other's existence as long as the road went.
The day came to an end and night welcomed them in its dark embrace. Nodin tried to set up a campfire as Anna was preparing their dinner. She found some potatoes and canned food in Nodin's stuffs. They weren't going to keep them up for the next few days. She had to manage their food servings. They were hungry but in those vast fields nothing edible was found, even a pigeon didn't fly over the fields. No human being, no alien, no creature, nothing was there.
Anna laughed at her idea of thinking of aliens. Since she was young they were told, if there were aliens, they would the enemy of earth. In story books aliens were described as abnormal creatures with detestable faces that had come to take Earth from humans and they would end up destroying human kind and taking control of nature. Yes, destruction, annihilation, massacre, Genocide.
Her heart was still grieving over her son's death.
"What's the difference between them? They took my child, they took lives, they took animals away, they burnt everything. They took control of everything. How are they better than aliens?"
Anna sighed.
"They like to brain wash us. They're the aliens."
Eden caught a glimpse of Anna as she was mumbling to herself. He didn't know what he was supposed to do. He had hurt Anna a lot only because he was feeling unwell. Like how a son would complain to her mother about everything and blame her. He knew Anna was really kind to go out of her way and carry him on her own. Her kindness was unquestionable. Feeding him, looking after him. Anna's heart did beat for those who needed help. She was mothering the little girl and him as well. It was a miracle that Nodin who could paddle his own canoe, had joined Anna. He was of great help.
"I wish I wasn't this useless."
Eden was yearning for a word of praise to raise his spirit.
.
.
.
Finally, Nodin made the fire ready. Anna came to check on the little girl. Since it was a chilly night, she took her near the fire.
They were sitting around the fire when the little girl woke up from her dreams. That day was the first day when she could finally sleep without having to wake up and walk miles away.
Anna greeted her with a warm smile on her face.
"Good morning sunshine!"
The little girl raised up her hand to greet her.
Nodin sat beside her and let her use himself to lean on.
"Did you see any dreams?'
Nodin asked her.
She shook her head denied seeing any dreams, nor nightmares as if she had wanted to see one.
"Do you know this little guy named Sandman?"
Nodin asked her.
"Long ago, people used to believe that there's this man who helps children to go to sleep. Once a granny told me when she was a little kid just like you, she saw the Sandman."
Eden interrupted him.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! How did she see it? Did she do drugs?"
Nodin turned his head towards Eden, then said.
"Let the myths be real as long as they don't hurt others and help a few to smile a bit. Please have that in mind."
Nodin was a real teacher, how amazing he could have become if he had someone to support him.
"She told me once she was alone at home, waiting for her mother. That night, the clouds were crying real madly. She could feel the roof over head getting hit numerous times. She wanted to sleep then a thunder made her more frightened. She couldn't fall asleep; fear had bottled up in her heart. Once she closed her eyes she saw something which frightened her even more."
Eden: "What was it?"
Eden seemed to be more eager than the little girl to know the story.
"Humans tend to make things up when they're frightened. There was nothing but she imagined things. Fear is shapeless but we form it and give it a name. Anyway, as she was struggling, she felt a warm touch on her shoulders. A little boy was standing near her. He shined brightly, as if he was made off golden sand. He gave her a hug and comforted her. She said it was the first time she was able to sleep and dream sweet dreams all night. The little boy brought her joy and peace of mind then He offered to be the one she could rely on."
Anna: "I wish a sandman would pay me a visit."
Everyone had become silent, it seemed as if they had liked the story, except for Eden. He wanted to know more. The little boy who had helped him calm down, was making him scared and curious. Was he really the sandman? But wasn't the sandman supposed to come at night? What was the little boy's deal?
Eden knew if he were to ask, Anna would scold him for talking nonsense once again. Nodin seemed to know a lot but he couldn't be of much help, since he was younger than him, he couldn't talk to him on equal terms and considering the behavior he had shown, not even the little girl would take him seriously. He was stuck with people more mature and far more experienced than him.
"I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, Mother, what was war?"
-Eve Merriam