The Abyss

 

On my dirty hands and old knees, sweat dripping and makeup running from my eyes, I crawled to the edge of the dark abyss, and peered inside. I cautiously kept my silence, for fear my voice would harm me.

In a moment of courage, I whispered into the abyss. “Hello?” My feeble voice lightly echoed within the deep, endless chamber. A grey pebble resting on its jagged rim fell into the hole. I turned my head sideways over the abyss, yet no sound emerged. Afraid of heights as I had always been, I hesitated to climb down the half-broken ladder that met the mouth of the depth. I inched back slowly from the opening, then stopped. The cavalry was coming. I just knew it. They had been riding for days and looking for me for weeks. I imagined them binding me in cold metal shackles head to toe, and tossing me to my doom into this aperture. I shook my head, sifting the idea from my mind, and laid low. Perhaps they wouldn’t see me. 

A desert iguana came out from a nearby creosote bush, moving closer to my station as I quietly declared my space. He looked at me, then scampered away, disappearing into the distance. I turned over onto my back, exposing my face to the blistering sun, now directly over my head. I lifted my arm, shielding my eyes so as not to destroy my vision. My mother used to tell me never to look directly at the sun, or you’ll go blind. Better to be safe than sorry. I was afraid to fall asleep, lest I wake up a piece of beef jerky. Exhausted from my journey, I contemplated my next step, as the leader of the solar system stood in defiance, threatening to wipe out my existence. I’ll be fine, I told myself. I’ve survived worse than this.

I looked at my watch, witnessing the second hand momentarily stop, then restart. Certainty only exists in a vacuum, right? I smacked the crystal face, yet time continued to play this game with me. I was hoping I would win this round. 

The desert sands cushioned the stampede of the ponies, but I knew they were getting closer. I turned over onto my stomach, and crossed my arms under my chin. No water. No shade. This was a disaster waiting to happen. My eyes fluttered and face twitched as my body begged for sleep. The abyss became my solace, as my struggle with reality manifested into a dream state. I imagined fountains of spring water washing over me, dousing me with a grace only non-human beings were capable of. 

I grasped the wedding ring on my left hand, encasing it as though it were gold. Memories of that day burst onto the mental scene, as I awaited my slow death. The way she kissed me under the vine-woven altar. The moment we said, “I do” in unison, making the audience laugh. When we ran off the stage together the minute the ceremony ended, to make out in the janitor’s closet, before everyone would wonder where we went, and coming out, covered in each other’s lipstick. The toast my sister made, as everyone held their glasses of Dom Perignon, wishing us many years of joy and happiness. I held onto it tightly, as tears formed in my eyes. Perhaps the salt water would satisfy my thirst. The cool emanating from the depth of the abyss abated the threat of heatstroke, as I lingered in that space. 

I was startled as I recognized the sound of hollering coming from the hills a few miles away. The company flew down into the valley with speed and precision, as though their mission were clear. I was on their radar, and there was nowhere to go. 

As they neared my resting place, I recognized the head of the cavalry. She immediately motioned for the group to slow down and trail behind her. Her dark brown eyes stared me down, as she dismounted and walked towards me. She stood over me quietly, appearing confidently with her armor, her right hand touching the handle of her sword. I buried my face in my hands, and cried. When I looked up again, the woman stood there, clad in jeans, boots, and a leather jacket. Without hesitating, she knelt, and touched my shoulder.

“Are you okay? We’ve been looking all over for you. This is not a safe place for you to be alone. The coyotes will get you out here.”

“I had no choice.” I stammered, and looked down at the ground below me. “After what I did, the trouble I caused, why did you come looking for me? I figured you wanted me dead.”

She smiled at me. “I married you for a reason, you know.” She grabbed my left hand, holding it tight. “There’s nothing you could do that could make me not love you.” She kissed me on my sand-covered forehead, and opened the canister she brought from her horse. “I’m sure you need this.” I drank half the container, and gave it back to her. She looked at me with curious eyes. “Why did you think I’d be so quick to reject you?”

I shrugged. “Because other people have.”

She eyed the abyss that was inches from our feet where we stood, and pointed at the broken ladder that hung from its rim. “Were you going to go down into that thing to get away from us?”

I nodded.

She hugged me fiercely, and whispered in my ear, “Let’s get you out of here. Everything is going to be okay.”

I climbed onto her pony as she grabbed its reins, and saddled herself up properly. I put my arms around her waist, and held on for dear life. ⚢