Ali sat close to Jasmine as she spoon fed the two survivors a fish broth. His head was fuzzy with the closeness to her body, her clean scent intoxicating his lungs. She glanced up and their eyes caught for a moment and his heart beat glitched ever so slightly. Both the survivors had been in a deep sleep since being brought to land. The man was pale from being in the water, his otherwise handsome face and dark hair currently muted in sickness. The woman had long blond hair and was thin, her pulse weak, but slowly gaining strength. He stood and made his way towards their net to catch more fish.
As he began the process of catching fish he pondered over his reactions to Jasmine, knowing that he wanted her. Yet this feeling of want was soon replaced with apprehension and dread. His thoughts carried him back to the past year before the voyage....
**********************************
There was a knock on the door, "Officer Taouma, there is an urgent phone call for you." Ali looked up as an underling called his name in his office. It was noon here in Germany and he had anticipated a call for a while from his wife. She had just a few weeks away from giving birth to their first child, a little girl.
"Officer Ali Taouma speaking," he said formally into the phone.
"Mr. Taouma this is Dr. Stephenson on the phone, I'm here at Memorial hospital. You are the husband of Angela Hitchens-Taouma correct?"
Ali hesitantly affirmed this, fear settling in his gut.
The doctor sighed, "I am very sorry to tell you this but your wife has just passed from complications after a car accident. The accident caused too much stress in the baby and she went into labor prematurely. We were unable to stop the bleeding from both the labor and the accident. I am so very sorry."
"How did .... how?" he rasped not hearing his own voice.
"We believe it was by a drunk driver and the police are currently investigating. Are the any relatives we may call?"
Ali had stopped hearing and was sitting there numb with shock. He sat there with the doctor talking on the phone in his hand, not moving until someone came in and talked to the doctor. Hands landed on his shoulder and stood him up, walking him out of his office and home.
Everything moved in a blur for Ali until he realized he was at home alone. He looked around at his Spartan apartment, his "home" he resided in while on duty from the states. Realizing his real home was dead with his wife, he began to hyperventilate, until sobs wracked his body. His throat tightened as he confronted the reality faced in front of him. The emptiness threatened to consume him so he stopped thinking and made arrangements to fly back to the states.
After the funeral, Ali went back to Germany immediately after, to the surprise of his colleagues. He threw himself into work, rarely speaking to his past friends at all. He could no longer connect with them, as he was a shell of his former self, his heart buried with his wife and almost child. This continued for 7 months until he was given leave of his position. The need to stay busy constantly urgent, he sought a teaching position at a military academy. One week until his new job began, his mother convinced him to go on a cruise, knowing that he needed a vacation before he once again buried himself in work.
Reliving those events made Ali realize that, although he was attracted to Jasmine, he did not want to go there with her, let alone with anyone for that matter. The memory of his beautiful wife still haunted him and he had not talked to a woman in the year since her death.
After gathering the fish he went back to camp and cleaned them with his sharpened rock, watching Jasmine as she sat by the sleeping survivors. Right then he resolved to be nicer to her and stop letting his feelings of guilt mandate his actions. But he knew he could never bring himself to talk to her, his main objective being survival until they left the island. Then he would never see her again.
****************************
Jasmine was exhausted from the constant care of the two newcomers, yet hope was burning in her that their survival was even more attainable given their increased numbers. Feeling confident in their improved health, Jasmine went and sat by the fire by Ali.
"So when they wake up, we need to assess what they can do, so we don't have to kill ourselves trying to survive," she began warily.
"I agree. For us to get off the island we must have a system. I must also apologize for my behavior these past few days, I have not been myself," he said, his voice sincere.
Jasmine was taken aback, not expecting his apology. Although it was brief, she accepted the apology with a nod of her head, realizing him to be a man of few words.
An easy truce was set between the two of them as they prepared fish for that night's meal and the next days. Once dark outside they went into the hut and fell asleep.
**********************************
Day 7
Jasmine awoke to the sound of the ocean, a feeling of peace covering her like a blanket. I could wake up like this for the rest of my life. She thought. This was soon replaced by a sharp pang in her heart as she remembered her family, who had no doubt heard the news of the cruise and her disappearance by now. I must stay optimistic, I will see them soon.
Never one to dwell on bad thoughts she rolled over and began to rise, only to realize that the two survivors were not in the hut, and neither was Ali. Walking out she seen them by the fire and their conversation stopped as she walked near.
The man who had called her his dark goddess stared at her, his long dark hair in curls almost covering his hungry brown eyes that left nothing hidden. The woman was gorgeous in a Kate Upton type of way, with wavy blonde hair and wide blue eyes that stared at her in curiosity. She moved to sit by the fire and they all glanced around at each other.
"My name is Luis" the man said first as he rose in a fluid motion, offering her his place in the sand as if it were a grand chair.
Flustered she accepted her new seat between Ali and the girl.
"Well my name is Bianca" the girl said as she surveying Jasmine's clothes.
"Did you make those? How long have you guys been on this horrid island? This is bullshit someone must come look for us," the girl rambled her voice reaching a higher pitch with each statement.
Ali and Jasmine looked at each other and Ali spoke. "This is Jasmine, and we have been here for 7 days now. Until we get off this island we need to survive and that means that you guys must help. Jasmine has nursed you both back to health, as she is a medically trained doctor," he finished, not knowing what else to say.
Jasmine, always better with words began, "I made these clothes from a cotton plant I found further inland. There are plenty of plants that we can eat as well as fish that can be caught from the sea."
She motioned to Bianca, "Would you like to come see where the freshwater pool is and I can show you how to make the clothes?"
Bianca nodded and they walked away.
"Man, she is fucking scorching," Luis said while elbowing Ali in the ribs and watching Jasmine's ass sway.
"Yeah, whatever" he said moving away from Luis's arm in irritation.
****************************
As they walked inland, Bianca talked incessantly, yet Jasmine welcomed it, soaking up the chatter like a sponge.
She's annoying as fuck, but I still like her. She thought to herself.
When they reached the ground water pool, Jasmine took off her clothes and jumped in to clean herself. Bianca soon followed and as all girls do, began talking about the boys.
"Man both of them are so hot!!! If only we were in Cancun with them instead of trapped on this island. Good thing I got waxed before I came, so I won't start growing hair for another month" Bianca mused out loud, drawing laughter from Jasmine who agreed.
They both stayed in the water longer than necessary, then got out. Jasmine showed her how to make the clothes, and then they both made pieces for Luis. Walking back to camp Luis stared at both of them, happiness and lust on his face as they gave him his new "clothes".
"Thank you very much Senoritas, you have given me something to make my life a thousand-fold easier" he embellished.
It's only two pieces of cotton. Jasmine thought to herself, noting Bianca's blush.
"Luis, are you ready to learn how to use the net" Ali said loudly, interrupting their conversation.
"Yes I'm coming. Wish me luck in catching fish for you, I want to feed you both personally with my catch" he said winking as he walked away.
Jasmine rolled her eyes as Bianca giggled, and they set about starting a fire as the sun set.
