As the sun reached its peak in the sky, I felt like I was hitting rock bottom. I was alone, surrounded by nothing but trees and bushes, with no sign of Gabriel anywhere. I had been crying for what felt like hours, my eyes red and puffy, my body shaking with sobs. I was consumed by guilt and self-blame, replaying every moment of our journey in my head, wondering what I could have done differently to prevent Gabriel's disappearance.
"If only I had been more careful," I thought to myself, "if only I had kept a closer eye on him, he would still be here with me."
I felt like I had failed in my responsibility to look after my little brother, and that our dad would be disappointed in me. I couldn't bear the thought of facing him without Gabriel by my side.
Just as I thought I couldn't cry anymore, I heard a faint call in the distance. "David! David, where are you?"
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized Gabriel's voice. I quickly wiped away my tears and called out to him, trying to make my voice as loud and clear as possible. "Gabriel! Gabriel, it's me! I'm over here!"
I kept calling out to him, trying to guide him towards my location. And then, suddenly, he appeared from behind a tree, a huge smile on his face and a filled-up water bottle in his hand.
"David, I found the river!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "And look, I brought water!"
I was overjoyed to see him, relieved that he was safe and sound. I rushed towards him, hugging him tightly and tears of joy streaming down my face. "Gabriel, I was so worried about you! I thought I had lost you forever!"
Gabriel hugged me back, laughing. "I'm sorry, David. I didn't mean to scare you. I just saw the river and I wanted to explore it."
I held him at arm's length, looking into his eyes. "It's okay, Gabriel. I'm just glad you're safe. But next time, let's stick together, okay?"
Gabriel nodded, still grinning. "Okay, David. I promise."
We hugged again, both of us laughing and crying at the same time. We had found each other, and we had found water. Everything was going to be okay.
As we finally broke apart from our embrace, Gabriel handed me the water bottle, and I grasped it like a lifeline. I unscrewed the cap and brought the bottle to my lips, gulping down the cool, clear water like it was the elixir of life. I had never felt such intense thirst before, and the water was like a balm to my parched throat and dry mouth.
As I drank, Gabriel's eyes scanned my body, and his expression changed from joy to concern. "David, what's all over your skin?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
I followed his gaze and saw that my arms and legs were covered in red, swollen bite marks. I had been so focused on finding Gabriel that I have already forgotten them until now.
Gabriel's eyes widened as he took a step closer to me. "David, I think I know what those are," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "I saw some flies like that when I was looking for water. They were buzzing around the river, and I thought they were just normal flies, but now I think they might have been the ones that bit us."
I looked at Gabriel in disbelief, my mind racing with questions. What kind of flies were these? Why did they bite us so much? And how did Gabriel know about them?
Gabriel began to pull up his sleeves and pant legs, revealing his own set of bite marks. "See, David? I have them too. I thought they were just mosquito bites, but now I think they might be from those flies."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that we had both been bitten by the same insects. What if they were poisonous? What if they made us sick?
But Gabriel's calm and matter-of-fact demeanor reassured me. If he was okay, then I would be too. We exchanged a look, and I knew that we were in this together, no matter what.
"Let's get out of here," I said, screwing the cap back on the water bottle. "We need to find a way out of this place and get back home."
Gabriel nodded, and together we set off into the unknown, our bites and bruises a reminder of our ordeal, but our bond and determination stronger than ever.
As we journeyed on, I couldn't help but steal glances at Gabriel, my mind reeling with a mix of emotions. Awe, admiration, and a hint of concern all swirled together as I thought about what he had done. This little seven-year-old boy, my brother, had ventured out into the unknown, alone and in the dark, to search for water. It was a feat that seemed both reckless and remarkable at the same time.
I remembered the fear that had gripped me when I realized Gabriel was missing, the panic that had set in as I scrambled to find him. And yet, here he was, walking beside me, his eyes shining with a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had done what I couldn't, finding the river and securing our source of water.
I felt a surge of gratitude towards him, mixed with a sense of wonder. How could someone so young be so brave, so determined? Gabriel's actions had saved us, had given us a chance to survive in this harsh environment. I realized that I had underestimated him, that he was more capable than I had given him credit for.
As we walked, I kept looking at Gabriel, trying to see him in a new light. He was no longer just my little brother, but a partner in our survival, a fellow adventurer who had proven himself in the face of adversity. I felt a sense of pride in him, a sense of pride in us, for we were in this together, a team.
The river loomed ahead, its gentle gurgling a soothing sound after the silence of the wilderness. I knew that we still had a long way to go, but with Gabriel by my side, I felt a sense of hope that we would make it through, that we would emerge from this experience stronger and closer than ever.