Adrift

Copyright Published by Team Xue Hua Piao Piao, Somerset College, Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba, Queensland 4213

Team members – Maito Yamaguchi, Felix Jackson-King, Rishi Veeramachaneni, Yuvi Chauhan, Tristan Song, Oliver Yang, Mason Richards, Tarun Mutalithas, Benjamin Liu, Hamish Kennedy

Copyright ã 2020, Somerset College

All rights reserved. This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquires should be made to the publisher.

CHAPTER I

Life carries us away and wisps us into different fates,

but in the end,

we will always be adrift towards our destiny.

She sauntered up the luscious grass of the towering green hill. The breeze gently brushed against her face; her cheeks lightly touched. When Meredith reached to top of the hill, she continued to walk, feeling the hedges with the edge of her fingertips. The tree was overhanging her, like a skyrise in a city. The gleaming sun shone a vivid yellow light , perceiving through anything which surpasses it. This created a bestowed shadow of her physical form alongside the distinctive tree. She slowly lowered herself to the roots of the tree, sitting in the small flower bed. The bright colours of the flowers were as elegant as a ballet dancer. She mumbled unconsciously while picking the petals,

“Meredith…”.

She passed momentarily after mentioning the name.

“Meredith...”

Submissively whispering the name again, trying to find some sense in the word.

She had no last name, no identity. It was all she could remember from her childhood, being named Meredith. There was just no memory of anything else. Reality gave her no purpose in life.

She looked up at the bright blue sky, the sun blinding her eyes. She tilted her head down quickly to avoid the violent sun rays. She fell back into the grass and let the soft bristles brush against her body. She felt at home.

She finished picking the final flowers. Being a florist calmed her and helped her to recollect of the vary memories of her past and helped to think about the coming future. She pushed intensely against the textures of the soil, seeping her fingers through the dirt as a last force of desperation to remember at least something, any memory, she thought. Alas it was nothing, not even a single thought.

“I am nothing, there is nothing that defines me, a nobody” as she wept silently.

Before she strolled back down the tranquil sensation hill, she thanked nature for allowing her to share her thoughts. She turned back for one last look of the towering hill and continued to saunter towards her flower plateau. Suddenly, there was a strong gust of wind which pushed Meredith off balance. A twig broke off the large oak tree and caught Meredith's attention. A leaf gently and quietly floated across the sky. She observed it momentarily and was about to continue her day, until she noticed the distinguishing colour contrasts of this specific leaf. It has smudge of a variety of green hues with abnormal stripes of gold and a dash of orange, standing out in comparison of all the other trees. A peculiar thought came across her mind, wondering why life is so strange and at random. Was there an overall meaning of these circumstances which just happens to occur?

CHAPTER II

You may not know who is Watching you, But they sure do.

Meredith continued to stroll down the long, grassy hillside, the rippling orange, sun rising over the horizon. She bent down and picked a long-stemmed yellow flower. “Perfect!” she thought. “This will go well with the orange ones”. She starts to sing a song... Suddenly, she freezes. She recognizes a memory of somebody singing to her in her youth. The song made her remember the warmth that she felt around that person. It was one of her fondest and only memories. Now however, all the people from her youth were lost from her mind. The song was about a person who lost somebody, and then found them again. Meredith felt she could relate perfectly. Apart from the fact that Meredith never had, and believed never will, find the people who gave her joy in her youth. Find her identity. Meredith looked up to see the small leaf continuing its way with the breeze, giving it a bit more attention than before. Meredith continued her way down the hill, still picking the alluring flowers for her shop. They were as beautiful as the dwindling sun over the sky-blue ocean. the approached the riverbed feeling the cold, rippling water on her feet. She started thinking about who she was before the incident, did she still have a family, if so, where are they. She continued her. she comes across another tree filled with flourishing frangipanis. She picks one and puts it into her curly, brown hair. She continues to walk down the hill, but she comes to a stop halfway. She sits down and investigates the far distance; the village were her flower shop is shone with light. She could see it all. She had always known that there was something missing in her mind, she thought as she advanced down the hillside, now completely ignoring the beautiful blue tulips poking out of the long grass. Not something. Somebody. For years she had lay down in her bed and wondered who she was. Who were her parents? Did she have siblings? Who were her uncles? Aunties? Grandpas? Grandmas? The river rippled next to her as she thought about this. The leaf watched Meredith as she sauntered down the hillside, looking absent-mindedly into the shimmering air. The breeze didn’t let it touch the ground, and instead the leaf twirled and twisted through the current.

‘She ain’t not know who her parents were, she ain’t not know how her sister was…' Meredith continued to sing her song. ‘Next day she saw who she was, saw her parents, was reunited with her ol’ sister...’ She continued to sing as she walked down the hillside, and onto the path.

CHAPTER III

Passion drives, Compassion strives, Life flies.

Gazing into the distant, gravel road, Meredith gathered nostalgia from the familiar scenery. The dominant earthy smell of fall, the product of plants hunkered down for the winter. Fallen leaves began to decay and their sugars, organic compounds broken down, fabricating the musky-sweet smell of a leaf pile. The wind greeted gravel and skin just the same, yet she was blessed to feel it. The giddy currents flowed through woodland canopies, unaware of how its song soothed those who can hear. She had thought of the wind as so free, chaotic even, yet it too has its path, even if there were infinite possible destinations. It was air with passion, a drive that powers onwards, every direction an option. The leaf tumbled before her, casting away by its wintry boughs to the air that sapped Meredith's heat. It twisted against the unseen air, gravity dragging it to a resting place. So alive, yet lifeless, just like Meredith herself. The branches swayed like the arms of a soccer crowd and it their chaotic dance they were hypnotically beautiful. This wind carried the fragrance of the woodland, the essence of her longing past. Her vision started to blur and squeezed out a single tear out of her hazel eyes. Those eyes were a melt of autumn tones, fending off the winter frost. She turned back toward her flower cart; she felt a chill with more bitterness than one of the homeless. The leaf scudded over the ground and took small flights into the air. The leaf elevated like sails without boats, carefree and joyful. Its colours sung to the blue of the sky and the green grass below. I imagine myself as tiny as an ant, riding one. The leaf felt like paper yet shine as church glass. Gravity pulling, air pushing and it’s just freely drifting along for the ride. The landscape suddenly altered into a vast, never-ending desert, only to be disturbed by tiny faint blurs. Another whistle of wind, full of warmth yet dry, directs the leaf towards the blurs. These blurs then became clear as the leaf gradually closed its distance. A rural, plain village, displaying nothing but tyranny.

CHAPTER IV

Memories destroy, Memories break, Memories heal.

A continuous, never ending river flow s directly through the rural village. The crystal-clear water allows a visible outline on the fine-grained rocks beneath the shallows. The assortment of noises composed by nature itself balances the loud disruptive noises produced form the town’s characteristics. The river shore is encapsulated by dark-greened moss, overgrowing, and slowly progressing towards the roots driving into the soil. A collection of brown oak trees with uneven textures, surround the rural town. On the east side of the village, there are rows and rows of sugar cane fields which are ongoing for miles. The friendly villagers harvest this sugar cane every odd season in order to gain the largest yield. The leaf soared across the bright blue sky, travelling in sight of the village. Witnessing the villages working in unison. Witnessing the bloom of the hundreds of flowers in the plateau. Witnessing the market stalls selling their well-made products. The leaf lowered, Derrek, a fireworks technician who has a comfortable life in all aspects: a reasonable income, relationships with others and a home. He dresses as a young, kind-hearted man, waiting for something detrimental to occur and change the pathway of his life. He has a slim shape with a tall back posture, showing his general confidence in life. It was a typical day of work, where he manages events, in relation of fireworks. Derek was hastily preparing for an annual festival, drafting a plan to present to the town mayor. His ideas based around this year’s ceremony, conceptualizes ‘hope’. He pitches this idea to the town mayor in a confidence and a calm tone, expressing that: “Hope is something which gives an untimely chance for those who does not believe they...” A distant memory shock him, a tremble within as he says the words. A girl, holding hands with him. “Meredith...” he quietly articulates her name. Thoughts overwhelm him, this memory, how come it just reminded him of the traumatic separation between his cousin. He inquires to himself after the pitch, did she need hope? Is she still alive?

As he strolled back to his home, the unique leaf soared across the bright blue sky, travelling in sight of the village. Witnessing the villages working in unison. Witnessing the bloom of the hundreds of flowers in the plateau. Witnessing the market stalls selling their well-made products. It slowly decreased in altitude, reaching towards its target, Derrek.

CHAPTER V

He who follows,

May not be following,

But be admiring The path up the hill was a never-ending snake slithering further and further up the so-called ‘hill’. More like a mountain, thought Derrek sourly. Although Derrek’s eyesight was aging and poor, the end would still have been out of sight for anyone. It was unreachable. Completely and totally unreachable. The blazing sun sizzled his sensitive skin but the occasional blow of cooling wind relaxed Derrek and encouraged him to proceed with his task in hand. He felt consumed by the roaring heat. By now, Derrek’s shoulders are throbbing in serious pain. His carrying pole forced friction over his back. Rashes and burns more red than ripe tomatoes. He carried on knowing he still had to make it back. The treacherous, rocky floors soon turned to the healthy, pleasing lime green grass. Surprised, Derrek believes his mind is playing tricks. He heard the sounds washing water. Swiftly, he follows his ears. His short shoe lases intersected and he fell off balance. His head dipped right into the long grass. It smells like freshly cut lemons. Derrek brings his head out of the grass and admires his surroundings. The river approached him. Its luscious look made Derrek feel accomplished. He arose from the ground to get back on task. Now, the whole front of Derrek’s clothing was wet from the grass water, but he hadn’t cared. He picked up his bucket and began collecting as much water as he could. He knew the more he had the longer until he had to come back here. Suddenly, he felt the sense of being followed. “Who was there?” he mumbled to himself. Rumbles were coming from the bushes. Derrek felt unease. He hadn’t been around people for several years. Cautiously, he spins around unable to see anything. “Who was it?”. “What was it?”. Derrek’s eyes squint. He desperately searches and finally he finds someone in the distance. A lady.

CHAPTER VI

Those who seek, Face obstacles,

Some of which may not be passed Meredith began her daily trip down to the river. She continued to pick her flowers coming across some dazzling calla lilies along the way. They were lovely blue ones, so she picked some for her shop. She strolled along the peaceful gravel path all the way along to the river. She went back to the frangipani tree again because the other flower had crimpled up and she picked another one to replace it with. She remembered the path that she did not choose to go earlier on, the way to the village. Meredith finally made it to the river where she was before. She hopped across the same steppingstones and back up to the tree were that weird leaf came from. she had a gorgeous view of the village. The nostalgic scenery reminded her of the familiar essence, and she tried to remember her past, her identity. But nothing, not even her own last name came to mind. She began to question why. What is the point of everything? She was lost. Why was she in this world. All she does is pick flowers and sells them. She was making a living out of something she didn’t see the purpose of. She found it mundane. Wake up, pick flowers, sell flowers, sleep. She thought, What is my purpose? ‘I need to find my identity,’ Meredith declared to herself with passion in her eyes. she could see her flower shop, and she could even see some people, some happy people who most likely knew were they stood in society, but Meredith does not know that. ‘murmur,’ Meredith’s stomach was rumbling, she was hungry, so she planned. She would take the flowers that she had back to her shop and along the way she would grab a bite to eat and a drink of water. Meredith spots a man like figure also down at the river. It looks like he is filling buckets of water. The man takes a glance at Meredith and they lock eyes. Meredith wonders, ‘What is he doing here?’

CHAPTER VII

When someone shows you who they are, Believe them the first time.

Derrek lifted the buckets out from the gushing river. The water was warm and translucent. Overflowing water cascaded down the sides of the buckets. The overflow tapped onto the ground creating a path which represented his journey down the gravel path. He traveled down the path. His eyes locked onto a woman who was further down the river.

***

“Uh... Hello?”, Derrek hesitantly mumbled.

Meredith turned to face Derrek. He was well dressed, and his smile was charming. Meredith realized that he must have been the man down the river. She wondered what he wanted.

“Um... Are you lost? How can I help you?”, replied Meredith.

“No, no. *chuckles* It’s just... You seem familiar.”, Derrek continued, “I feel like this isn’t the first time we’ve met.”

Derrek gazed into Meredith’s eyes with curiosity. How do I recognize her? She looked so familiar.

“Is that so? I’m sure I’ve never seen you or met you before.”, Meredith denied.

“It’s Meredith, right?”, questioned Derrek.

“How... how do you know my name?” Meredith steps away, puzzled by Derrek knowing everything about her.

“Just as I thought! I was sure of it. Please, I need to have a conversation with you. I need to tell you, who you are.”, insisted Derrek.

Meredith sat on a large rock. It was perfect in shape with no impurities. Dull. It protruded adjacent to the gravel path. The top was flattened, it looked oddly like a coffee table. The rock was big enough for Derrek to join. Their shoulders rubbed as he sat. Meredith was overwhelmed with a feeling she does not recall. Her past, to her it was always a dark abyss. Meredith wondered, if she even wanted to know. She contemplated if her knowledge would change her. But she had to know, she needed to understand where she is from. She had to know her last name. She had to know who she is.

“I never asked of your name. Could you introduce yourself?”, asked Meredith.

“The name is Derrek. Derrek Garcia. I am your distant cousin.”

Meredith’s eyes widened and her jaw lost all its tension. She had always been alone in the world, and now it felt like it would that way be forever. Perhaps her life would no longer be mundane and routine she believed. Maybe her life would have purpose, maybe it would be lively and bubbly . She smiled. A great smile, from ear to ear.

“You’re my distant cousin?!”

“Yes, and I actually spent quite a lot of time with you when you were young.”

“Tell me, please!”, exclaimed Meredith.

“Tell you what?”

“About me! My background, my childhood, my identity. Please, I know nothing about myself.”

“Oh, of course. Where should I begin... do you want to know everything?”

“Yes! Absolutely everything. I don’t have a clue about who I am...”

“I’m sorry. Then, let me tell you a tale of a little, mischievous young girl who loved to play in the outdoors.”

CHAPTER VIII

Knowledge is sought, Knowledge may be power, But knowledge can lead to downfall.

“Brightness ricocheted off the surface of a pond. The pond was home of many happy creatures that helped each other live. The fish would suck harmful bacteria off each other's backs. On the edge of the pond were the water met the grass, and the surface was muddy a cheerful little girl with a big smile leaned over staring into the water. Your hands were on her knees to support. You analyzed the movements of the critters. You loved it. In the future you wanted to study the wildlife. I saw your growth as a child but due to unpredictable times I had to leave.”

“Animals?”

“I’m sorry I cannot tell you more. This is all I know. I-I, I hope that helps.”

“No, thank you. I really needed that.” .

Meredith clasped her hands together and brought them to her lap. She straightened her back and kicked her right leg over her left. Derrek looked into her eyes, the dark abyss that he saw before was gone. They smiled in unison. A gust of wind blew by like a powerful passion, scattering through the trees as if there were the leaves of fall. The leaf that had followed Meredith from the beginning, guiding Derrek to her, appeared from the distance. It floated over them and slowly drifted down as gravity pulled it towards the river. The leaf laid on the water’s surface in front of them and wandered down the stream.

CHAPTER IX

In moments of realization, You have to make a choice.

Either let regret consume you

Or rectify your mistake. The sun began to set in the distance, its shimmering orange rays disappearing over the horizon. As the night began to fall, Meredith was able to regain her identity, her realization and purpose in life. She was already beginning to stop contemplating her purpose in life, becoming more optimistic and looking on the brighter side of life. With the assistance from Derrek, she can now enjoy life and live to the fullest. She is no longer lost. No longer the grey, invisible self she used to be, not knowing anything about her past. The gap in her mind is filled. The leaf had led both Meredith and Derrek into meeting each other, and was discovering the connections that were hidden, oversaw the two on their whole journey. Guiding Derrek to find his lost relative, assisting him to give Meredith a life to live. The stars twinkle brightly in the darkness, the sky being as black as coal. The stars filled the darkness like white corn, like a sense of meaning and belonging in a sea of unknown. It was a vast ocean to bring the appreciation of home and the sense of a role in life. The sense of an identity. Meredith was given hope. She had a defined identity. She was no longer alone. She was no longer adrift.

Life is not about the destination, it’s about the journey. In search of her long lost relative, Meredith aims to maintain hope and find her inner self in nature.