Tomorrow

The note inside the small purple felt bag had said “We’re heading south, you know where we’ll be”.

He wiped away the sweat as it was rolling down from his temple and hoped he would find something to drink soon. His mouth felt as dry as the dusty dirt roads he was walking. Even now, in the dark of night, August in Alabama offered little relief from the heat. “At least there was a full moon out” he said aloud to himself “should make it easier to cross these fields.” With a deep breath, he took in his surrounding one more time and started walking.

He understood why they choose to head this way, more natural resources, and milder winters, by why had left alone? He suddenly became aware that during his silent thinking, he was holding and twirling the heart shaped locket that hung around his neck in his fingers. “Snap out it!” he told himself as he shook his head. Just then he heard the howls of a pack of coyotes off in the distance. He wasn’t able to tell how far away or close they could be, as the sounds echoed around him. “Keep your head in game Drew, who knows what’s out here. And the last thing you need to be doing is not paying attention.” Scolding himself like a coach to a player, “Now focus and let’s gets this done.” Straightening his back and tucking back his shoulder he started to pick up the pace of his footsteps.

As the sun began to peak above the horizon, he thought he had probably cover about 20 miles that night and it was time to look for a place rest up before the sun became blazing. He was in a good spot, a lot of tree coverage, a few rock formations, and just out of his eyesight he could hear water running from somewhere. He took a few steps of the road into the trees and saw an old metal folding chair that had been dumped there. Some of the vines and brush had started to grow through it but he managed to pick up and it opened fairly easily. He took off his backpack and sat it in the chair, unzipped the top compartment and pulled out the two empty plastic water bottles he had managed to find during his trip. He glanced around and listened for a moment trying to gather his bearing. Turning 180 degrees he started walking toward the sound of the water.

About 50 yards in, he could see it! The glorious natural spring water flowing from the side of the rocks. Throwing the bottles down, he put his mouth straight onto the water and drank from it like it was a water fountain. Gathering some in his hands, splashing his face and running it through his hair. Again, he drank, and drank, and drank.

Once that immediate thirst was gone, he began to look around. Noticing the rock overhang just a few feet away, he thought that would be a perfect spot to rest, it provided shade from the heat, and it was close to the spring. He walked back to where he had left his backpack on the chair, grabbed them both and went to make camp for the day.

After filling up the water bottles and striping down to let the cool water run across his skin, he pulled the stuffed toy he had found out of his pack, it made a decent pillow, and the oversized beach towel. Pushing some rocks and sticks away with him foot, he laid the towel down on the red dirt and stretched out. It was really getting hot now, and by the position of the sun in the sky he figured it was close to noon. He watched as the treetops swayed in an invisible wind and drifted off to sleep.

The sound of booming thunder and the crackle of lighting woke him up in a panic. Taking him a minute to remember where he was as he looked around from a crouch position. He slowed his breath while softly repeating to himself “It’s over, it’s done, your safe” a half a dozen times. He opened his eyes and saw the dark storm clouds above. Moving quickly, he grabbed some sticks and dried leaves that were close by and brought them under the overhang to keep dry. Just as he reached for his backpack, the rain began pouring from the sky. He sat back down on his towel, put his T-shirt back on and glanced down at his pack and suddenly began to laugh a little. “Well hell Cap, looks like we’re staying here tonight” Talking to the Captain American backpack, “might as well enjoy it.” As he sat back against the rock wall.

Watching the rain fall, like a sheet of water outside his shelter, he began to think of how lucky he had been to find this spot. He wasn’t out here with no shelter; he had thought in advance and had dry wood for a fire and water in his bottles. His hand automatically went up the charm around his neck. Were they that lucky? Were they safe? Were they even alive?

He didn’t want to think about that alternative, of course they were alive. Why else would he be on this journey if they weren’t alive. He knew he was getting close to them, he could feel it down in soul. Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, he began to gather the sticks and leaves into a pile, took some rocks from inside the shelter and place them around the pile. Now, once night came if he needed it, his fire would be ready to light. He sat back once more stared silently into the rainy forest. His mind began to drift back to the day he found the small purple bag.

He had been scavenging and looking for another living thing for about 3 weeks at that point. Finally, he saw the small white farmhouse sitting back off the road. He began running down the driveway and just before he reached the front he stopped. “Maybe I should knock” he thought, “I don’t want to scare them if there is someone inside.” Stepping up on the porch, opening the screen door, he wrapped his knuckle on the door three quick times and waited. He didn’t see anyone stirring inside, so he twisted the knob and the door opened. “Hello” he called as he stepped inside “Anyone home? Hello” receiving no answer, he went room to room looking and asking, “Is anyone here?” It soon became apparent that he was indeed, alone; still. He sat down on the bed and began to cry. He looked up and started yelling “Why? What is going on? Where is everyone? How in the hell does this happen?” Of course, he knew how it had happened, he had been on the front lines when the whole world, at least his whole world, and gone upside down. Pulling himself together, he walked in the bathroom, place his hands on the sink and stared at himself in the mirror for a few seconds. He turned the knob for the water on the sink to wash his face off, but no water came from the faucet. Throwing his hands up in the air “Of course there’s no water, nothing works anymore you idiot” he said to the man in the mirror. He walked back into the room where he had been crying and saw the backpack over in the corner. He grabbed up it and poured its contents out on the floor and began to fill it with things he thought he would need. A towel, flashlight and lighter he found in kitchen junk drawer, change of clothes, extra socks, and so forth. The last room he went into belong to a little girl from the way it was decorated. He paused for second before entering and just took in the view. He started to turn and leave thinking they wouldn’t be anything useful in there, when the small bag caught his eye hanging on the doorknob of the closet. He walked over and grabbed it, but before he put in the backpack, he could tell by the weight something was in it. When he opened it, he had found the note and the heart shaped locket inside. Opening the locket, he saw the pictures of a little girl and on the other side a little boy. That locket and note had changed his life in that moment. He now knew he had to find them. He grabbed the stuffed bear off the bed and stuffed in the pack and headed out the door on his mission.

The rain had stopped, the sun had gone down, and he sat there watching the small flames dance around, humming to himself, just for the noise in an otherwise perfectly silent night. “Tomorrow will be the day I find them; tomorrow will be day I won’t be alone ever again.” He whispered in determination.

But, you and I know, that really tomorrow never really comes. Because until you die, there is always……. Tomorrow.