The Desert

We stand, hand in hand, under the blistering sun.
The sand squishing between our toes.
I love the feel of my small delicate hand in His rough, calloused, craftman's hand as it encloses mine.
He turns to gaze at me, and I Him.
We both smile, enthralled in this remote, intimate place.
The desert.
There's an intensity in His eyes.
"I love you," He barely chokes out, with emotion."I know there will be times ahead for you-- hard times, where you will think I have left you. But remember this always: it may seem, and even feel like I've let go of you, but I will never let go of your hand."
"I want to show you something," He says as He changes directions.
He lifts up His hand to touch my temple.
Instantly my eyes focus on two small people very far below me, as I have a bird's eye view.
They stand in the sand.
I recognize it as us.
My focus shifts out even further to reveal that in reality, my "desert" is inside of a white box.
In a flash, my eyesight returns to normal.
"What was that?"
"Not only will I always be with you here, holding your hand, but we will be held in His hands also."

We walk on, just as before, almost to the point where I have forgotten...but suddenly He stops and looks down at me.
And these were His only words:
"Remember."
He turns to face straight ahead.
Out of nowhere, gusts of wind begin to blow my hair in all directions, followed by swirling sand.
It gets stronger and even my eyes begin to burn from the sand, along with my bare arms and legs.
I struggle around.
The sand is so thick around me I'm not even sure if I can see anything in front of me.
Fear grips my heart, and my breathing becomes shallow.
I suddenly try desperately to find and see the hand connected to mine, but I'm so confused.
I dont even think I can feel His hand any longer, with sand pelting me in every direction.
There's no telling how long I've been going about this.
Eventually I buckle to my knees.
I feel like crying and I might have been for all I knew.
I lay my head on the rgound in exhaustion.

I feel delirious.
I'm still in the state of mind between the dream world and reality.
But I slowly open my eyes to the calm desert dunes surrounding me.
Its so quiet.
I start to sit up and see His arm, protectively over me, fall to the ground.
I feel his other arm laying underneath me and suddenly realize who's body is next to mine, fast asleep as I was.
He wakes quickly however.
The first words out of my mouth: "Where were you?! I thought I was going to die out there alone!"
He looks at me with a puzzled expression on his face.
"But I told you this would happen. And look. Does it look like I ever left you?"
I lower my eyes and see His clothes are dirty, and face weathered from the sand storm-- the same as mine.
"But...but.."
"I told you that you may not feel like I'm there, but I am. I didn't let go."