Writing competition "141" based on my digital image. Now you are the author of "The shipwreck, am I alone here?"

Freedom! Redemption is my aim. I spent my last hours in the ship thinking about my life and the gravity of my actions. Yes, I am convicted of first class murder and was being transported to my prison far away from the city, my family and friends. Speaking of family, I remember my sister the only family I have left. I wonder why I didn’t think of her before making that decision. I was blinded by greed and the lust for immediate wealth. Yes, you would ask, at the cost of someone’s life?. I didn’t really think it through because I felt I needed the money and my employers promised to cover my tracks but they didn’t. The scoundrel was the one who passed judgement on me. They didn’t even say anything to me and they didn’t even let my sister say her last words to me. Pain was all I felt as I was accompanied to the ship, I realized that I actually didn’t think about my sister, I only thought about myself and the cars that I would buy. I realized that as a man, I failed in my responsibility; as a man.

A man provides and protects his family. But I failed in that role, I failed my sister, my parents. I discovered that I had left a 14yr old girl to the world, to be bullied and maltreated as a woman. The sound of the ship departing blinded my ears and I was well aware of my journey. Three days into the journey a heard a loud quake on the ship and I woke up on the banks of the river border. Soft crashing of waves on the rocks, the silent rushing of the river and boulders surrounding it, yet no sign of life. Yet I begin to wonder, if I am alone; I wander around but discover that the place is surrounded by boulders, curiosity peaks and I wonder if there’s life behind the boulders . I have no choice but to climb over, viola! I find a beach on the other side.

The boulders covering this place makes the place to be nonexistent, the beach has closed for the day, I’m guessing that the place is a village since it shows no signs of civilization, night time comes quickly and I’m hugging myself to keep me warm. The mosquitoes and other nightlife insects oppress me. Rain comes and I find shelter under a palm tree. The patter of the rain drops remind me of my sister Clara and her fear of rain, I wonder if its raining over there, I think of my life and believe that this is God’s way of giving me a second chance. I vow to make amends and turn a new leaf and also find a way to locate my sister, but first I must find out where I am. A map out a new resolution and doze off as the sun rises.
A splash of cold water wakes me up. And I look up to find 3 odd faces looking at me. They were three ladies all alike so I assumed that they were sisters.
“What are you girls looking at” an older voice called, it belonged to a man and I also assumed that he was their father. He walked up to see what got his daughters attention, it turned out to be a man banished from the country side. He looked so young, but youngsters this days are greedy and want wealth so quickly at all costs and any means. Judging from his prison uniform he committed first class murder. He wondered what may have made him to do that.

Since he is here on his island, he would be given a second chance to start over, if he misbehaves he will personally turn him to the authorities himself.
“Ladies, I know that you haven’t a seen a fine man from the countryside, but he isn’t in the best shape for sightseeing.” He said.
“Oh father, we apologize” the elder of the 3 girls said blushing.
“Come young man”, their father said to me and to his daughters he commanded “to your duty posts quick”.
“you look worn out, there’s no time for introduction; freshen up first and we will talk later” he told me as he stretched his hand to me. I stretched out my hands but froze midway, this is the first time has offered me help.
“what’s the catch?” I asked. The man slapped my head and said “poor thing has never received love in his life before”. I quietly followed him to his home where I was well received and taken care of. Later in the evening when everyone returned from work, the three sisters rushed in my room to see me. They bombarded me with questions and their mother rushed in to save me. Their father called everyone into the sitting room and introduced himself as Han, his wife as Mary, his daughters as Lily, Jasmine and Lotus. He asked me for my name and I introduced myself as Luke. He told me that he that I am a fugitive and he believes in second chances, he has high hopes for me and wished that I would not disappoint him.

The next day, he sent the doctors to meet me. I was examined and luckily I was okay, I only sustained injuries from the shipwreck and a minor concussion. I was rushed to the healthcare facility where I received treatment. Who would have thought such a remote place was so developed. Mr Han lived closed to the river because that was the source of his livelihood and as Chief, it is mandatory to live close to avoid exploitation of low class villagers. I was adviced to live a lowkey life. Mr Han and his daughters showed the ropes and in three months. I became my own master, I moved out of Mr Hans place and my life could me likened to the story of Moses. Lily the eldest of his daughters had picked interest in me but I wasn’t interested, im currently thinking of a way to dissuade her. I take a stroll around, while walking I discover a group of men trying to harass a 14 year old girl. I rescue her with my high assassin skills, the only things my employers taught me. This action strikes a chord in my heart and reminds me of Clara my little sister, I decided to visit Mr Han and ask him for his help.

On reaching Mr Hans house, I spot Lily reading a book to the village children. I would have never believed that she was educated, she raises her head and sights me; sending a smile my way which I pay no attention to.
“here he is again” Jasmine teases me.
“I don’t like Lily” lotus says mimicking my voice. Jasmine and Lotus, Lily’s sisters tease me. Leave the poor man alone their mother tells them. After exchanging pleasantries with her, I sight Mr Han feeding his birds. He notices my presence and turns to me, “how are you doing Luke, I see you came to visit your Lily he teases”. I begged to differ, I told him that my visit had nothing to do with Lily and I had more important issues to discuss, Mr Han asked if I me if I had any interest in his daughter and I replied in the negative.
I had soft gasps behind the door and we knew that we had eavesdroppers, Mr Han was not very pleased with my response but he hid it perfectly.

He escorted me to his study where we discussed about my sister. While working with my former employers I made sure not to disclose any information about her to them, I deeply hoped they wont find her out, if not they would try to use me like the way the tried to use me. Mr Han told me that he would send spies to check my sister for me and would make arrangements to bring here since I cant go back. I forgot to add that there was an underground tunnel that led to the countryside I was banished from, you may be wondering why I haven’t been discovered yet; that because this side of Mr Han’s village is like a forbidden area and no officials parade here because the villagers here are not troublemakers. Its already late and I bid Mr Han and his family farewell, no one begs me to stay because I may have broken someone’s heart.

I decide to take the shorter route to my house, the soft crunch of the leaves under my foot, the cool night breeze and the rustling of leaves reminds of freedom; that I am grateful for. The quiet route is disturbed by sniffles from the oak tree, our oak tree; I remember when Lily and I usually sneak out there for privacy. I walk closer and discover Lily crying there.
“Lily dear, what’s wrong?” I ask.
“You’re asking me what’s wrong, It’s the way you ignore things around you, after telling my father that you don’t have interest for me knowing fully well that you told me that you love me” lily told me.
“my Lily, things are not easy as they seem, I thought about us and discovered…”
“discovered that you don’t like me, I’m not good enough for you?... lily interrupted and angrily walked out on me. I dragged her hand before she left,
“lily, you didn’t let me finish, I discovered that I’m not good for you, anytime I think of a future with me and you and I’m always scared”
“scared” she asked.

This woman if I really want to finish this discussion, I need to close her mouth, without further ado, I use my two fingers and hold her lips shut and continue,
“I’m scared that you will have to live a lonely life without me if the government finds me out, I don’t want you to raise our children alone, neither do I want them to live the trauma that their father is a murderer”. “I cant even protect my own sister, do you think I can protect you, Please understand me you deserve better”.

She pulled into her arms and hugged me and said “I don’t think of anyone deserving of me than you, lets find your sister and live that future you want, its okay to be scared, and I promise you that you won’t go to jail, father won’t let that happen.”
“Father?” I asked. This time around it was lily’s turn to use her fingers and shut my lips.
“You think that we are just villagers huh…my father is the leader of the Undercover agent responsible for national security, he knew who you were before you even landed.”
“normally, people like you are given a chance to live again before being sentenced to death, surprisingly you’re the only one that showed remorse and changed, so your name has been swiped off the death toll”. This discovery was shocking but I was glad, I was given a second chance. Mr Han kept to his words and found my sister, but the rascal wouldn’t believe a thing he said, he had no chance but to drug her and bring her to me, you could see the joy on her face when she woke up and saw my face.

We had a lot to talk about since the shipwreck, but I’m not alone.

I invite my friends @comfortpeter, @suboohi and @stef1 to read my story and comment their thoughts.