My name is Sam, and I am waiting. I have been waiting for three years, seven months, 18 days, and five hours. I gather flowers and wait for them. They promised they would be back and they said to stay and wait for their return.
When I see the earth eat the sun and the stars open their eyes that shine so brightly in the sky. I return to the empty village hidden in the meadow and I stare, unblinking, at the heavens until the sun rises once again.
I go to the meadow and pick flowers. Then I wait, my legs are no longer sore from standing, and my stomach doesn’t growl from hunger. I have been empty since the last one died. They told me I couldn’t follow them because I had to wait. Birds are flying above my head. They are so free; I want to be a bird. I want to fly away from the meadow, away from the village that is cold and smells of death, but I will wait.
The birds are singing, and I sing with them. They sing of today, but I sing of days so long ago, days we laughed and smiled, days before my family left. Tears drip down my face and I call out, so lonely am I. I scream. I hate this meadow and the grass that teases me as it waves back and forth. I hate the sun as it comes and goes with no sense of responsibility. I hate it all, all the things that have more than me. But I remember the words, the promise to come back, so I must wait faithfully.
My dress is tattered, so old it is in pieces. My hair is tangled and wild. I am dirty with no water to clean myself. But I can’t leave the meadow, if they come back, I must be here to welcome them and give them the flowers of our land. Another day passes, and I go back to the village to wait for the sun to come back.
The sun shines dully the next day; it pities me. As if in agreement, the clouds begin to cry. Big, cold tears fall on my face. They wash off the dirt, and I smile my thanks. I dance for the clouds, I laugh. The clouds are rocking along with me. The thunder gives us music and we dance until the day is done. I go back to the village and I wait once again.
The next day the sun is shining brightly, I smile at him. He is very happy today, so I must be happy to. Something good will happen today. I can feel it. Then I hear the rumbling. It’s a plane. I run to gather the flowers. I have never run so fast.
The plane lands and I run towards it. They have come back! They are here! My smile stretches to my ears, never have I been so happy. They are home! They came for me! I wait as they walk towards me. I wave and shout hello, but they don’t respond. I shout louder, but they still don’t hear me. I rush towards them. Do they not see me? I see my father, he is in front; he is smiling! I run to him. I walk along side him as fast as I can. I try to get his attention. I call to him, but he doesn’t hear. I reach to grab his arm, but I grasp nothing but air. He ignores me. Tears are falling, dripping slowly down my cheeks. I am here, why doesn’t he notice me? I continue to yell desperately, trying anything to get him to look. It is hopeless. I scream my agony.
They are walking to the village. They will find nothing; there is nothing left. My father leads the men into the village; his face turns an ashen grey when he sees it. It has been burned to the ground, bodies lie everywhere. Father falls on his knees and starts to weep. I am confused, I am here, shouldn’t he be happy? Father gets up and searches around; he is looking for something, but I don’t what it is, maybe I could help. I look with him. We look for hours.
Father finally finds it; he was looking for a person. He rocks her back and forth. She is my age and is wearing the same clothes. Father is mumbling my name as he holds her remains. But I am here, so why is he crying over her. I hug him, trying to console him.
Father doesn’t notice me and picks up the girl and walks out of the village towards the plane. They are boarding. Where are they going? They promised! I throw the flowers at my father. He swats them aside. I crumble to the ground and weep. They don’t see me; I am trapped here forever.
Father puts the girl down. He lights a match and throws it on her. She is on fire. Soon she is gone, but the fire continues to spread. Father looks back one last time before getting on the plane. They take off into the air, leaving me in the fire.
It is spreading fast, but I don’t run away. They are gone, all of them are gone. I have no one; I am alone. The fire hears me and moves forward to devour me. I let it surround me, but I don’t feel the heat as it burns the rest of my home. I waited like they asked, so can I go away? Can I follow them?
Rain falls and puts out the fire. I am left with nothing: the birds no longer fly above, and the grass doesn’t tease me. I am not worth the effort. I am empty, the hope is gone. I hate it all. I hate them for leaving me here. Why couldn’t they take me with them?
I am lying in the mud; the sun shines weakly, trying to cheer me up. Then I feel it, they have come back. They have come for me! They are standing in the meadow that is no longer burned and we are laughing together. We are together; I am not alone any longer. I am like the birds, I am free! ?