It was an extra hot day in the desert. It was just me and my brother looking for other people on our way to Ethiopia. We were trying to escape the civil war in Sudan.

After we had to leave our village loun-Ariik because my brother's school had soldiers come in and shoot guns. He won't tell me about it, he says it's too scary. The only reason I survived was because of my brother. I was nearby and he grabbed me and ran into the bushes as I screamed to go back for our other brother and sister. I know now that was impossible because they were on the other side of our village and we were being chased by soldiers.  

    After over 2 and a half months of walking we were desperate for even one single person. Then that one day.. We spotted movement. At first we thought it was just a herd of animals but as it got closer we realized it wasn’t animals...

                                    IT WAS PEOPLE!!!

    The group was far away so me and Chace ran fast to catch up to them. We screamed at the group telling them to slow down for us. The group heard us and slowed down  turning around to see us. 

WAIT FOR US

HOLD UP!!

    One boy ran toward us..

    “HE WILL BE OUR NEW LEADER HE WILL!!” the boy screamed.

HE WILL BE OUR NEW LEADER HE WILL

    After that another boy ran, they looked my age, maybe a bit older.“He is perfect!!” they both exclaimed. 

HE IS PERFECT

 “Why should I be your leader? I don't even know you boys.” The boys just grabbed my brother's hands and dragged him to the rest of the group who were all glaring trying to decide if he was actually a good leader or not.

Why should I be your leader? I don't even know you boys.

    Then they saw it.

 His Dinka tribal tattoos.  

The group was all Dinka so they immediately brought him into the group. Chace was then accepted as the leader as I faded into the background.

The two boys came back to me and introduced themselves. The first boy’s name was Noah!

He had tan skin, big brown eyes, and beautiful brown curls. 

The other boy’s name was Geal he had dark skin, a big smile and really cool spiky hair. 

 Both boys explained that their leader had died and that no one could decide on a leader in the group, until me and Chace got here. 

So.. why my brother?

    “Because no one wants to be the leader,” Geal said, trying to reason with me. 

    I stared at him for a second. I nodded and walked away. But throughout the next couple days me, Geal and Noah were becoming a small friend group.

    One extremely hot day my big brother Chace was leading the group. Me and my friends, Geal and Noah, were walking and slacking behind the group as the heat of the Akobo Desert was beating down on us while we were making our way to Ethiopia. 

“Danelia.. how… much.. longer..?” Geal rasped

Geal rasped as he fell. I caught him before he could hit the ground

 “I can go ask Chace!!" he screamed