by Dane Bagley
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Sarah couldn’t believe her eyes. John, she thought. She blinked, she shook her head. It was real, she wasn’t dreaming. He’s returned. Sarah nearly dived into the water herself, but something held her back. A sick feeling like a pit in her stomach stopped her. All the anger she had felt for John came rushing back. While he was out of the promise land every unpleasant thought, feeling, and emotion towards John had been suppressed by Sarah. But he was back, safe and sound, and she felt them all again. This, however, only lasted for a moment.
She watched him glide up to the surface and heard him gasp for air. The feelings of love for John then erupted to the surface again and she felt a tremendous joy.
But wait. He’d changed. No. Was that John? She saw the figures back of the head. He was similar, but not quite right. He swam to the far end and pulled himself out of the water. She, concealed behind the waterfall and the shadows, looked out to see him, without her being found. She looked carefully. The body wasn’t right. It was a big strong man, but it wasn’t John.
The man looked around, staring at the encircling mountain range. He looked back in Sarah’s direction, but she wasn’t spotted.
Who is this?
The man didn’t seem to be in a hurry to go anywhere. He looked around, lost. He looked back at the water, expectantly. Is someone else coming? Is it John? Has John helped this man find the promise land? Oh, John, maybe it was a good idea to leave. Maybe you have saved others!
After a few minutes the man walked off.
Slowly.
Aimlessly.
He clearly didn’t know where anything was. He didn’t even take the path. Perhaps, Sarah should have gone down to help him. The thought, however, never occurred to her. She sat for several hours longer watching the water, expectantly. That night she returned home more distraught than ever.
