My Hope

Scaling the trees like we had done as children seemed all wrong in this situation. It used to be pleasure that drove us up the rough bark; now we climbed out of fear.

The shadowy men were a ways behind, but that didn't make it any less frightening, never before had my life been at stake.

"James?" Shayna whispered down through the leaves, "What are we going to do now?"

"Wait. Watch. Survive." I replied, praying my voice was strong enough to believe in.

"Do you think anyone else is out there?"

"I have no idea." without intention, my mind conjured up the horrific picture I had seen as Shayna and I were returning from our tour of the countryside. By some miracle, the two of us had slipped out of the grasp of these monstrous men that as far as I knew, had destroyed the entire country. 

I looked up to reassure myself that Shayna was still there. Things had been so unreal today, none of this had been predicted, there was no warning or way to prepare. 

Shayna had never looked so scared, or beautiful for that matter. Her dark complexion and brown themed clothes made her look like simply another strong branch extending to the sun. She looked so young and scared, like a child fairy caught in a butterfly net. She searched my eyes for comfort and faith, and I hoped there was something to give, but I knew there probably wasn't. Shayna bravely smiled and turned away. There was something between us that told me crying would break our hold on life. The tears that were draped behind our eyes must dissipate or all would be lost.

Up in that tree we would wait, watch, and survive for at least this moment.