We must bury her. Lawson said.

I look at my husband to see nothing but sadness in his eyes. I look back down at my little girl and squeeze her dead body and whisper I love you. I look over at Adam to see him digging a hole. I start to cry again, with every tear I feel, which makes the sadness only stronger.

It’s ready. Adam lays down the shovel onto the slick, muddy sand.

I pick up my little girl’s dead body and set her gently in the sand grave, as tears pour down my warm face. My husband feels a sense of relief; I can tell this by the look in his eyes, as he starts shoveling the loose sand from the ground and pours it onto her body. I observe the blank look on her face because I know she is a peaceful child, at rest. I stand up from the grave and start to walk away, toward the inner depths of the island, my husband and son following close behind.

Mom! Come back!

I run faster looking for food. I am famished, beyond famished at this point I haven’t eaten in at least three days.

A tall mango tree in the distance slowly gets closer and I run faster and faster.

Yes! Finally, a mango tree. Gah! I am so hungry!

I was so hungry from lack of food that I quickly gobbled up four mangoes just by myself.

Wow, those mangoes were delicious. I thought to myself.

Adam and Lawson saw me eating those mangoes they sat down with me and ate a few.

Those are so sweet and juicy. Just be careful honey, don’t make yourself sick off of them. Adam said.

With my stomach now full, I decided to lay down and go to sleep. I laid on the rough plants of the jungle floor; I look at the stars and start to cry remembering my daughter’s death. The somber silence invokes strong exhaustion that I couldn’t fight off. I passed out hard.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I slowly blink my eyes open to the sound of a racket of two young men hard at work.

What are y’all doing?

Aren’t you hungry mom? We need to find food for every day we are out there. We cannot continue like this. Lily is gone and I don’t want to be next.

I nod and walk toward them.

Alright, but I want to help.

I grab some tools and Lawson stops me and I look up at him.

Mom, it’s alright, we got this, you go lie down and relax, dad and I can handle this, you need to relax you have been through enough you’re stressing too much. Dad and I both see it.

I look at him ready to argue back.

Sweetheart, please rest. My husband insisted.

I nod with a blank stare on my face. I walk towards a shady tree and sit down. I look towards the ocean and I remember the time when we went to the beach in New Smyrna.

I began to daydream about the trip in 2007.

Hey, stop that Lawson you’re getting my hair wet! Lily yelled.

Well, if you would just get in the water you wouldn’t have to worry about it! Lawson argued.

They started bickering and I watched them and laughed at them.

Hey, Lilly! Just get in sweetie!

No, mom. It is way too cold for me. Lilly exclaimed.

Oh come on honey, what was the point of coming with us? Adam said.

OK, OK, just give me a minute, it is freezing. At least let me get used to the water!

Lilly starts to walk deeper and deeper into the water, and then she dives into the cold water.

Oh. My. Goodness. It is so cold! She shivered.

I started to laugh at my daughter as I overlook her as she swam.

I quickly jumped back to reality.

I see Adam and Lawson cooking fish over a fire, that looks great to eat right now. I sit down to grab some fish.

After sitting, I take a bite into my fish it is so bland but how could I complain, after all, I haven’t eaten anything before those mangoes.

I fall asleep again to the breeze of the ocean in my face. A loud crash through the trees echoed and startled me awake. I hear something in the trees. I look over there, but I see nothing. I can’t see anything. I squint to focus my tired eyes. Oh! There is this gigantic, dark-furred beast! With a huge mane in the looks of a lion, and I can tell this is no earthly creature. It seems to be looking, almost staring at me. The creature runs away into the nothingness of the wilderness.