Page 14 - CORNICE GRADE 9

STRANDED ON AN ISLAND

You know the feeling you get when you sleep in a bed that’s not
yours. In the morning you expect to open your eyes to the same
place you always see- your room, the usual. But once you realize
you’re not in your room, there’s a slight sense of panic that
immediately gets overtaken by logic, because you remember why
and how you’re here in this new place. Imagine that same feeling,
but the panic doesn’t go away.

I woke up in the midst of pebbles and itchy grass. There was sand
everywhere. I was sweaty and cold at the same time, and the sand
stuck to my body. Once I gathered up the will to sit up straight
and look around, I almost wished I had just gone back to sleep. I
was hit by mental flashbacks of the events that led up to my
situation. There had been a plane crash. I’d survived, but now I
was stuck in an island in the middle of nowhere, seemingly a lone
survivor.

I got up and looked around. There was a lagoon, not far off into
the sea. Beyond that, endless blue water that stretched all the way
to the horizon. The island itself didn’t seem too shabby. There was
a forest, grass, and mountains far off into the distance. It wasn’t a
very large island. I found fruit lying around on the ground as I
walked, so I figured food wouldn’t be that much of an issue. The
forest looked dark and gloomy, like something you shouldn’t mess
around with. I had a feeling I’d get around to it eventually. I can’t
stop myself from setting foot in sticky situations, I’ve found.

I ended up on the issue of getting fresh water, but it didn’t take
long to solve. The water between the lagoon and the great big sea
wasn’t salty. In fact, after that many hours of thirst, it was almost
sweet. Gradually a lot of things started coming to mind like
shelter, family, entertainment, and Rescue? I’ve sorted one of
those things out. And I’m sure my father, a Royal Navy Officer,
isn’t slap happy about his young girl being lost at sea. Although
the most important aspects of my survival as one would think are
sorted out, the matter of being all alone without any company,
and the prospect of an isolated existence are things that are
intimidating me.

I only hope not to lose my senses during the time I have to wait
for help to arrive. Although, if I do end up getting rescued in a
fairly good state (can’t be too sure of that, any amount of getting
stranded on an island is bound to knock a few screws in the head
loose), what a great story this will be for the geezers back home.

All I can wish for now, is luck. -Anushka Sharma

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