Deep Inside

 Having asked a simple question "how are you holding up?" He smiled and narrated  this episode in response

 Few steps more and then all is going to be fine. This is not the first time he felt this way. His parched lips needed water and his blistered feet were resisting to move. The Sun felt so hot as if he could touch its burning surface if he had stretched his arm just a little bit. 

No shade in sight but the water is just a few steps away, he could see the blue shimmering surface of the small lake not too far away. But the lake kept on moving farther away as he tried to step closer to it.

 This is not the lake; you know this is a mirage his mind told him. You cannot be a fool to not know the difference between the mirage and oasis? A small voice angrily asked from the corner of his mind. They all left, turned or stopped and some got far ahead of you. You are all by yourself, he heard the small voice tell him.

He ignored and took another step. And then one more and so on. 

Deep inside he knew there was no Oasis. Deep inside he knew this was a mirage. Deep inside he knew he was not a fool. Deep inside he knew he had come too far to turn back. Deep inside he knew stopping there meant the end of it all. Deep inside he knew it was hopeless. Deep inside he knew he can't give up. Deep inside he knew he would go on till he cannot anymore. Deep inside he had never lost his faith on his feet and Deep inside he had never lost faith in the possibility of a miracle. 

Deep inside he knew he was invincible as long as he was alive.

I may never know that man in the desert or what happened to him in the end. but whenever I think of his story, I always pray that he met the miracle, the hope of which had kept him going. As such lone travelers can always use a prayer.