I was so thirsty, parched throat in the desert, I did not want much, I did not ask for a lot but to quench my thirst as I wandered through the desert. I had been thirsty for so long , if it was possible to get use to such a situation, I had somehow adapted and went around with no consciousness of my thirst. And then one day, from nowhere a well appeared right in the middle of my desert. My first reaction is to jump for joy but immediately I became suspicious, it is a trap! Someone is trying to scam me, it’s a bait, Wells don’t just appear in the desert. Moreover I didn’t dig, it’s not mine, I can’t touch it, I must not touch it! It’s poisoned, I will die, I will be sinning, I will be hurting someone. In the end , I ran out of restraint and excuses. I could not run from the risk, so I allowed myself! What an experience! What joy, what fulfilment, what elation! I drank and drank and drank. Every night I go to bed, not believing my good fortune and in the morning I wake up, the well was still there, smiling sweetly at me, welcoming me to a beautiful new day and then I would drink again. I was aglow and plumed up, so hydrated, my countenance radiated. At the back of my mind I still questioned the authenticity of the Well. Saturated and hydrated I kept going.
Slowly the Well started drying up, the water was no longer fresh, cool and sweet. There was still water, but no longer the same, I mentioned it to the Well but he said there was nothing to worry about. Then one day I woke up, it was gone, no water, no well. I panicked and I cried and cried but no water. Then I begged and begged, still no water. Then I got angry and I accused of fraud and lies but still no water. I did the silent treatment, but still no water. Then I knew it was over, but I didn’t know how to get over it. Why did it appear in the first place? Why was it so short? Everyday I would go to the same location of the Well, longing and wishing it will reappear. Promising to behave better, apologising for every wrong doing, anything to get the Well back , but it was gone, it was over.
Yesterday I went to the spot where the Well was and there was a drop of water, why? I couldn’t not tell, but the drop was there and I lapped it, roll it around in my mouth, relishing the old times, it was sweet, nice and short. I said my good bye. I knew it was over, I slept like a baby.
Beautiful Ivory 