Follow the river

"Water always leads to civilization." She whispered to herself. It's something she heard one of the sergeants explain to a group of marines back on the ship. She followed the rocky path alongside the river slowly regretting the heeled boots she had chosen to wear. "Stupid. Who the hell am I trying to look cute for?" She said to herself. With no one around, talking helped to keep her calm. She thought back to her boyfriend in Med school who had loved seeing her in heels often asking her to keep them on when they made love. The sex was always disappointing though and Odette ended the relationship shortly before graduation when she came to the realization he was simply too safe and boring. Perhaps that train of thought was what lead her to land on a combat ship in the middle of a war.

As unsatisfying as sex with her old boyfriend had been, it was still better than nothing. Having been single for months, Odette had become very familiar with a vibrator her friend had gifted her as a joke. During downtime aboard the Ithaca, Odette often found herself in her bed, on her hands and knees working her vibrator in and out of herself imagining someone was taking her from behind.

Odette continued walking for hours, taking short breaks to have a drink and rest her legs. Her only meal was a small square of chocolate broken off a ration bar she had stored in her belt. Although not very filling it was still 250 calories that would help get her through the next stretch. Finally she came across something encouraging. Planks of wood and logs organized on the side of the river, she recognized it as a fishing dock. A fishing dock meant someone lived nearby. Odette held back tears but allowed a huge smile to creep across her face. If she waited here surely someone would come by eventually. however through the thick brush she could see a dirt path leading up a hill into the forest.