Time Moving Forward

A Short Story By Allyson Oliver

It was two o’clock that morning, when a young girl, who had just reached her twentieth year, left a note on the dining room table of her home where she knew her parents would find it. It told them pretty much everything they already knew. What they didn’t know was how afraid she truly was.

At a minute past two, she left the house she grew up in, was protected in, and was seemingly safe in. As she stepped off the last porch step, the house seemed to cringe; the cringe seemed to be its voice, and the voice was asking, “Why are you leaving?”

“I don’t know.” She choked on a sob that threatened to engulf her in misery. Why me? Why do I have to go? Why can’t it be someone else?

Three minutes past two, she was driving away.

Thirty minutes past two, she was in the airport.

Thirty minutes past three she was flying on United Airlines, nose pointed towards Europe, to a country she could never remember the name of. But yet, it was that place she feared, that she had always feared. She never dreamed she would someday be going there. But here she was now, perhaps flying towards her doom. She pulled out a book that held the truth to her life, and searched for something to comfort her worried soul.

Time was slowed, for the flight had lasted hours. But yet it was three in the morning when the plane landed, which only meant that back home it was three in the afternoon. The young woman stretched from her doze. The wheels squeaked and rumbled as they hit the gravel below. I don’t like flying, she admitted to herself.

At exactly thirty minutes after three, she gasped when she felt the dessert heat suffocate her lungs. She took in a breath, and forced a smile as she saw her friend. He returned the smile, and lifted one of her bags relieving the pain in her shoulder. “Good morning, Mia.”

“Is the day so young Thomas?” she asked him sarcastically.

“Jet lag,” he agreed with a nod. “You’ll recover soon.”

“How long will I be here?” That bubbly feeling of hope floated in her soul. It was the hope that she would be home in only a few days time.

But by the look on his face, she knew her hope was diminished. “As long as you’re needed, which could be a while.”

While they drove down the concrete road, her gaze lingered over the dark shapes of the mosques. They stood round and tall over any other buildings in sight. Every where she looked there was something rich, from fancy dressed homes with gardens of beauty and life to the late night stalkers who wore robes of scarlet. Mia jumped as Thomas honked at a few slow passing women who were covered from head to toe in colorful clothe, despite the heat.

As they drove out of the city, the dark veil was slowly lifted by  the golden rays of the sun, revealing its true color and splendor, which Mia knew she would never see. After a few hours of driving, they entered another and a very different homestead. The town seemed to consist mainly of small adobe places and square houses made of wood and clay.  The road had changed from concrete to dirt and rocks. The smell had changed from perfumes and clothes to refuge and sweat.

“This is the place,” he told her, stopping his car in front of a two story building that looked like it was made out of clay and mud instead of wood. It blew her mind away to think of how they could have made it look like a cube. “You’re going to need to dress and act like them for a while. Try to keep a low profile, but at the same time tell anyone what you know of. But be careful who you give it to. After a week or so, we’ll have you disappear and be relocated.”

“Makes sense; and what if I’m discovered?”

“There will be nothing we can do.” He said without any emotion in his voice. He placed her suitcases next to her. “This is a real dangerous place Mia. People that have been discovered have never been found again.”

She shuddered at what he meant. Just as he turned to leave she asked, “Why am I here? Why have I been chosen for this?”

He shut the door and started the car before answering through the open window. “That’s something you need to figure out.”

Six o’clock, Mia stretched from her long doze. After doing her daily reading of the Truth, she began her first day by applying a powder to her face and hands to make herself appear darker than she really was. After observing herself in a cracked mirror, she wrapped herself in a soft fabric that concealed her true identity. Sweat from the constant heat caused the dark clothe to feel wet and itchy to her skin.

Six-thirty, she ate wheat bread and drank goats milk for breakfast.

Six-forty, she left the house and explored the suburbs of where she was staying. She greeted anyone she met in their own language. Many of them returned the greeting, but not all of them were exactly friendly. Mostly they gave her looks of suspicion and fear. She was unsure if that meant they suspected her or if they were just afraid of strangers.

Eight-thirty, a line of trucks and horses with tall officers dressed in tan coats enter the town. Mia’s heart pounded at the sight of them. But they didn’t seem to know who she was. Perhaps they were waiting for her to set herself up. “Don’t be silly,” she told herself. “They probably aren’t even aware that you exist.”

Twelve o’clock, Mia reenters her temporary home to have lunch. As she was eating, she repeatedly peaked out the window to keep an eye out for any officers. Nobody was watching her; nobody was waiting. She felt herself beginning to relax for the first time since she has entered the country.

Six o’ clock, she was walking down the street and she saw an old lady sitting alone, her face hidden behind her hands. From the blubbering noises and her shaking shoulders, Mia knew she was crying. Her heart pounded. This is it, she told herself. She slowly walked over and waited until she was noticed. The old lady stared at her without saying a word, but her rubbed red eyes revealed her despair. Mia greeted her, and asked, “Can I help you?”

“You can tell me a way out.” the women responded bitterly, her voice cracking. “I have nothing, nothing of importance here. There is nothing I want except death. It would end it all.”

There was so many times in which I have felt that way too, Mia thought. She remembered the question she was asked, “What happens in death? Where does death take you?”

“I know not,” the woman shook her head. “I used to believe, but I know not. What of you? I’ll listen, for I know not.”

Mia closed her eyes. She couldn’t do it by herself. It was so impossible to do alone. The truth was always easily but unknowingly twisted. It had to be given in the right way and time. If not, the results were disastrous. She stared at the women, whose wrinkled skin betrayed her age. Her face revealed nothing but pain. She didn’t have time left in life. It was her last chance.

The words were taken from her mouth, and she told the old woman everything. Mia’s heart pounded as she waited for a reaction. Either the she would except the truth, ignore it, or turn her in. There was only one thing that betrayed her decision. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me.” Mia responded. She stood up and left. I wonder if somebody else would have given it to her if I hadn’t. That is most likely. But when would have it been? I suppose I really needed to be here for this reason. She looked back at the old lady, who had disappeared inside the dark and cold house. I sure do hope things go well for her. Perhaps, there is now warmth in her home.

Someone was watching her.

Five o’ clock a.m the next day, Mia was forcefully dragged out by a soldier. She fought with all hopeless efforts. But despite the fact that her heart was pounding and her hands were shaking, she refused to allow herself to panic. She was sure her time was done.

When they stepped out into the foreboding night, she was surprised to see the street deserted. There was no one else waiting.

The soldier threw her into the truck, and the smell of leather and cigarette smoke filled the air around her. He slammed the door, and drove faster than she has seen anyone drive before. He stopped at the airport and said, “I’ll let you go, if you promise never to return.”

“I’ll make no promise.” She said forcefully, despite the fact that she was trembling.

“Leave!” he growled, and she did as she was told. As she walked towards the small building, he yelled after her, “Never come back! If you do, you’ll never leave the country alive!”

I don’t care, she thought. I will come back if I’m needed. She looked back at the soldier who was driving away quickly. I wonder why he’s letting me go. He probably was supposed to turn me in. Maybe there’s hope for him. The thought made her smile.

Six o’ clock a.m, she was home.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3: 16