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Annabelle Boyd
Pauline Arabella Pearson
The Journey South
Tsering Yangdon
It was another freezing night on the ranges of the Himalayas. She squinted her eyes using the moon as a source of light and started scouting the area for any possible threats, but ended up with none. With a sigh of relief, she went back to the place where she had hid and slept throughout the day. She carefully sat down on the cold ground, rubbing her hands together to produce some sort of warmth. Although she was pass the border, her journey was just beginning.
It was quite funny actually, that she thought nothing would have changed from her quiet and peaceful life on the plateau. The humming of the river, the soft chatter of the adults, and the carefree laughter of the children. She had a fine life there, where she was surrounded by her family and the close-knit community that consisted of her distant relatives. Sadly, it was all gone now.
It had begun with her parents unexpected death when they succumbed to an unknown disease. Then with the sudden betrayal from her relatives who abandoned her and her siblings, leaving them with barely anything to live off of. Not to mention the high tensions between her people and the neighboring country’s government; This war that was brewing had only added to the distress she felt. The only life she had known for 13 years had been ripped from her because of these events. Now, all she had were a small bundle of the few things her relatives had left and her 2 siblings. Her sister, being the eldest at the young age of 15, had led the way to where they were right now, in the middle of the Himalayan trail leading to their destination. Her little brother, having a mental disability, had trouble processing the situation and often cried out about wanting to go back home. Not wanting to cause him anymore pain, she and her sister had told him that they were on the path leading them back to their home.
Tsering Yangdon
It was another freezing night on the ranges of the Himalayas. She squinted her eyes using the moon as a source of light and started scouting the area for any possible threats, but ended up with none. With a sigh of relief, she went back to the place where she had hid and slept throughout the day. She carefully sat down on the cold ground, rubbing her hands together to produce some sort of warmth. Although she was pass the border, her journey was just beginning.
It was quite funny actually, that she thought nothing would have changed from her quiet and peaceful life on the plateau. The humming of the river, the soft chatter of the adults, and the carefree laughter of the children. She had a fine life there, where she was surrounded by her family and the close-knit community that consisted of her distant relatives. Sadly, it was all gone now.
It had begun with her parents unexpected death when they succumbed to an unknown disease. Then with the sudden betrayal from her relatives who abandoned her and her siblings, leaving them with barely anything to live off of. Not to mention the high tensions between her people and the neighboring country’s government; This war that was brewing had only added to the distress she felt. The only life she had known for 13 years had been ripped from her because of these events. Now, all she had were a small bundle of the few things her relatives had left and her 2 siblings. Her sister, being the eldest at the young age of 15, had led the way to where they were right now, in the middle of the Himalayan trail leading to their destination. Her little brother, having a mental disability, had trouble processing the situation and often cried out about wanting to go back home. Not wanting to cause him anymore pain, she and her sister had told him that they were on the path leading them back to their home.
The journey so far had been difficult with the rough terrain and their lack of knowledge. But she knew that her small family wasn’t the only one making the journey and this provided her with some comfort. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of her people who had made the difficult decision to leave their country in hopes of not getting caught up in the upcoming war. Families had been torn apart, people had been dying, but the war had not even physically started.
Brushing her tears away, she brought herself back from the painful thoughts that were plaguing her mind. By taking a short glance up at the night sky adorned with stars, she realized that it was about time to start moving. She reluctantly woke up her sister and brother, telling them that the time was now. Within minutes, her small family was bundled up and ready to start trekking once again. She looked at her sister, whose eyes were now dull, and then at her little brother, whose mischievous smile had been replaced by a bitter frown. What did they do to deserve all of this pain and suffering? What did she do? In the end little did she know, it would only get worse from here on out.
Brushing her tears away, she brought herself back from the painful thoughts that were plaguing her mind. By taking a short glance up at the night sky adorned with stars, she realized that it was about time to start moving. She reluctantly woke up her sister and brother, telling them that the time was now. Within minutes, her small family was bundled up and ready to start trekking once again. She looked at her sister, whose eyes were now dull, and then at her little brother, whose mischievous smile had been replaced by a bitter frown. What did they do to deserve all of this pain and suffering? What did she do? In the end little did she know, it would only get worse from here on out.
The journey so far had been difficult with the rough terrain and their lack of knowledge. But she knew that her small family wasn’t the only one making the journey and this provided her with some comfort. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of her people who had made the difficult decision to leave their country in hopes of not getting caught up in the upcoming war. Families had been torn apart, people had been dying, but the war had not even physically started.
Brushing her tears away, she brought herself back from the painful thoughts that were plaguing her mind. By taking a short glance up at the night sky adorned with stars, she realized that it was about time to start moving. She reluctantly woke up her sister and brother, telling them that the time was now. Within minutes, her small family was bundled up and ready to start trekking once again. She looked at her sister, whose eyes were now dull, and then at her little brother, whose mischievous smile had been replaced by a bitter frown. What did they do to deserve all of this pain and suffering? What did she do? In the end little did she know, it would only get worse from here on out.
Brushing her tears away, she brought herself back from the painful thoughts that were plaguing her mind. By taking a short glance up at the night sky adorned with stars, she realized that it was about time to start moving. She reluctantly woke up her sister and brother, telling them that the time was now. Within minutes, her small family was bundled up and ready to start trekking once again. She looked at her sister, whose eyes were now dull, and then at her little brother, whose mischievous smile had been replaced by a bitter frown. What did they do to deserve all of this pain and suffering? What did she do? In the end little did she know, it would only get worse from here on out.
Riley Herling
