The Amber Cup

11:47 PM. It was another cold, dry night at the skatepark. My lips cracked from the cold wind and dehydration. I took a sip from my meager water bottle to see only about half left.

“Damn government can't even give us enough water to stay hydrated.”

It’d been three years since the drought started. My town which was once a lively green valley town had turned into a barren wasteland. I switched my mind from the unpleasant topic to the task at hand: skating. I was so deep in thought I didn’t notice someone was now skating in the park too, luckily no one I knew. I stretched and threw down my board, pumping the transition as if I were trying to put my feet through the board. Just before the ramp, I repositioned my feet, putting equal pressure on each foot: balancing myself. I scooped my board, making it do a 360 in the air catching it with my front foot, feeling dust kick up in my eyes as I landed. Rolling away I realized how dry my throat was. I rolled over to my water bottle, unscrewed the top, and tipped it over to get only a small mouthful of water; not enough to satisfy my thirst. Time to go home. Looking at my phone as I put my jacket on I realized how late it was, 12:33 AM.

“Shit, mom’s gonna lock me out!” I exclaimed.

I quickly left the park, hurrying home, not noticing a friendly stranger’s wave.

The full moon lit my way home on the dark bike path trees, running past me. I watched the concrete fly underneath and push to the beat of the song I was listening to. 12:51 AM. It being so late out, there weren't many people on the bike path. When I was about halfway home I noticed a light orange glow from the woods to my right. I got off my board and looked at my phone, deciding whether or not to investigate it. 

“I’m going to have to go through my window at this rate anyways, why not?” I said to myself.

I made my way through some bushes toward the pulsing light, staying low. As I got closer, I saw what looked like where a homeless person had been camping—but no one was there, making me a little nervous. I went around the camp, ears and eyes on alert for someone coming home. The light seems to be coming from the dried-up creek bed, but oddly I heard the sound of moving water. The light started getting brighter, telling me I was close to the source. After a couple of seconds of creeping through the bushes I got there, and what I saw blew my mind. 

I saw a large dark orange cup on its side. Every couple of seconds, a bright orange light flowed out of the cup followed by a surprising, unbelievable amount of crystal clear water. It had been a long time since I or anyone had seen that much water at once. I started to think about how much I could change with it and how many people I could help with that much water, including my family. I cautiously scanned the area, making sure it was safe before I approached it. Slowly walking up to it I noticed it seemed to be made from solid amber. I picked it up, surprised by how light it was.  As I looked into it, an orange light blinded me for a second and then the cup was full. As I looked at it I realized how long it had been since I’d had just a glass of water. I bring the cup up to my lips and take a sip. I could feel the cool water flowing down my throat into my stomach and I started to tear up realizing how long it has been since I wasn't thirsty. Coming back to my senses, I realized how vulnerable I was. I quickly put the cup in my bag and went through the bushes again. I hopped on my board, and as I skated away I started to think about all the people I could help with the cup. I could change the world.