Wired.

by Bianca Ines Pedro (Australia)

Making a local connection Australia

Agony ripped at my feet, my ears, my lungs – it was everywhere. Clawing deeper into my muscles the more I fought to ignore it. Finding long lost nerves to cling on to. The others continued running, and through my pain I saw the last sculpted calf jog away effortlessly, with it, the tapping of a North Face backpack and metal thermos echoed past the trees. Before my lungs could catch hold of a breath, the thud of human feet was gone. I kneeled, tilting my head back to let the forest noises battle against the boom of my heart beating in my head, hoping for respite from the relentless run that my body was not prepared for. My throat ached for water. The thought of coming all this way to find an endangered rhino was gnawing at me to keep up with the rest of them as trembling fingers felt for the hard metal of my drink bottle. Sunscreen. Breathe. Uno cards. Breathe. Half eaten momo in a bag. Breathe. Clink. Respite. Zip. Sigh. Forcing myself to prioritise safety over comfort was not my strong point, and the leaves fluttered like glitter against a flat sky. I leant against a tree, and tasting the monsoon season heavy in the air I gasped desperately. I thought of how I had lived in a constant almost-there; with an ever-growing to-do list and a destination that was always just beyond reach. I lived life like it was a pavement leading somewhere; like it was linear; like a kid who stepped on any crack or pebble to flaunt the myth of a pre-written destiny. Tilting my head back again, this time with blood warm water filling my mouth, I realised this would be the first time I had been truly alone and stared blurry eyed into the wilderness. As I swallowed, panic enveloped the rest of me, but my eyes were taking in hundreds of shades of green. Was that a sloth or a monkey in the canopy? I thought about the half eaten momo in my backpack. Colours danced against the sun as I held the bliss of solitude - and then I felt it. I was not alone. As we locked eyes, her honey coloured iris took in all that I was: Soft skinned, easily frightened, full-hearted. She was smaller than me, with thick skin and wiry hair sticking out manically. Her ears hung low in the heat. In the space of a contracted pupil, we exchanged panic for curiosity. Forcing myself to prioritise safety over experience was not my strong point. With tentative steps, I kneeled to show her that I was no threat. My knee melted into wet earth willingly; I couldn’t run if I tried. A soft trunk searched my face. My heart fluttered into my hands like it was trying to escape. With a silent giggle, I reached out and met with this wildling, wondering what sort of omen we were for each other. In a world run by people, how was this little elephant so trusting of someone like me? I choked on my curiosity and blood congealed in my veins. Where was her mother?