Moments That Change Lives

“You have matches or a lighter with you by chance?” Mira asked him. Her eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness and could make out the shape of her client’s head and his body. His hands were now fumbling for one of the things she had suggested.

“Just a moment,” he said with effort. “I think I have it.”

The both of them were waiting impatiently as if their lives now depended on just a slight possibility of having a small piece of wood called a match with them. And she guessed that it really depended on it. It wasn’t like they were about to spend time in pure darkness.

“Got it,” Henry yelled with joy and a tiny package landed in her hand.

“Thank God,” she said. “You smoke?”

“No. It was a gift from the airline company. I have to thank them when I board the plane home.” Henry chuckled.

Mira slid one match against the surface, kindling a spark. The whole cave got some light and for a brief second the both of them could see that it was neither huge nor small, but rather something in between. Mira noticed that it was empty and there even was a cluster of branches in one corner. Probably someone was taking a day off and left them for other visitors. She wished everything well to the guy although she didn’t even know who he was.

“There’s wood,” Henry shouted in an instance.

“Yeah, but look at the ceiling. I don’t think it will hold.”

“You think it’s risky?”

“Well, not to let our hopes down, but I guess that it’s not going to last for long. We can spend an hour or two max, but no more.”

Henry let out a heavy sigh. “The jaguar will probably find another prey and everyone can go about their own business.”

“Hope so,” Mira replied sitting on the floor. The match was extinguished.

She sensed Henry walking to the corner with the wood and her intensified hearing picked up sounds of Henry selecting the best branches and bringing them right before her feet.

“Lighting a fire might not be a good idea,” Mira cautioned.

“Well, I’m definitely not staying in utter darkness,” Henry replied, taking the package in his hands.

“Oh, what, the gentle billionaire in a huge mansion is afraid of staying in the dark? Are there monsters living here, Mr. Masters? Huge lions and dragons that breathe fire?” She burst into laughter and Henry joined her.

“I seriously can’t believe your ability to joke in situations like these,” Henry said and in that same moment dust started falling from the ceiling.

The whole cave started shaking and Mira, wanting to hold a hand, grabbed Henry’s. It was the ceiling. She was sure of it.

“C’mon,” Henry said, pulling Mira with him to the back of the cave. Their hearts raced as adrenaline hit their heads. What was next? The ceiling finally dislodged. Heavy rocks fell on the ground completely shutting down the exit. They were trapped. In a cave. In a rainforest. In the back of beyond.

The fall provoked a great amount of dust and once it settled, it dawned on Mira. There wasn’t a way out of this. She couldn’t believe that they entered this cage on their own. Not knowing why, one saying popped into her mind. Out of the fire and into the frying pan.

“We are going to die here!” Henry said as if already giving up. It perfectly voiced Mira’s dreadful and grim thinking.

“No, we’re not. We’re both around thirty – at least I’m not dying this young and in a freaking cave in a rainforest I know just as well as the lines of my palm,” Mira shouted reassuringly.

“I am speaking the facts here, Mira. There’s not a way out. I knew that I shouldn’t have come here since the whole almost falling into a deep hole happened. We’re not getting out of here alive. Full stop!”

“Shut up, Henry. Don’t panic! You’re just making everything worse. We’re going to find a way out. I’ve been a tour guide practically my whole life and you certainly used your head to earn your billions. We might as well use them,” Mira said, grabbing the radio from her belt. “Offices! Mira Glass here with a client. Name – Henry Masters. We’re trapped into a cave in the rainforest. Over!”

Silence. Just a static signal.

“Please someone come here. We desperately need help. Anyone? Over.”

Nothing.

“Boss? Angelo? Over!”

Silence.

“Shit!” Mira shouted as loud as she could, while throwing the radio against the wall of the cave. “Useless, useless piece of garbage!” She tried to prevent her arms and legs from shaking and her voice from trembling, but in vain. It was of no use to hide the truth anymore.

“We’re going to die,” Mira whispered.