Sunlight
Short Story Buy Now
Summary
Sunlight by L.A. Davenport is a gripping tale of survival, desperation, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. Set in the harsh, sun-scorched wilderness, the story follows a runaway slave who has evaded his captors, only to face a new and unforgiving enemy: the desert. With no water, food, or shelter in sight, he must endure searing heat, dangerous wildlife, and the haunting memories of his past. His journey is not just one of physical endurance but a profound search for identity and redemption.
As the oppressive sun bears down, and with predators both human and animal closing in, he grapples with the crushing weight of his circumstances. Can he survive long enough to claim his freedom, or will the desert claim him first?
Sunlight is a thrilling exploration of the human spirit’s resilience, perfect for fans of tense, atmospheric survival stories.
As the oppressive sun bears down, and with predators both human and animal closing in, he grapples with the crushing weight of his circumstances. Can he survive long enough to claim his freedom, or will the desert claim him first?
Sunlight is a thrilling exploration of the human spirit’s resilience, perfect for fans of tense, atmospheric survival stories.
Reviews
Brevity at its best… Sunlight is a brief, informative, rather captivating, insightful, concise book. Angelwatch, Amazon
A well written story with vivid descriptions of a man on the run trying to survive his desert crossing. Mary James, Amazon
Background
The genesis of Sunlight can be traced back to the late 1990s, when I was just out of university and trying to find my next steps in life.
I remember clearly the image, appearing fully formed in my mind, of a man hiding in a desert valley in the southern states of America, as the early morning sun turns to daylight, wondering what he is going to do next. Who is he, I asked myself. Why is he hiding in the desert? What is he running from?
I tried to picture myself in this situation as maybe being initially fascinated by the desert life in the scrub, before my curiosity gives way to fear, and the ever-present threat of death. Pushing the idea further, I quickly settled on him being an escapee from a plantation in the 19th century, chased by slave catchers, finding himself on the valley floor, a day or so ahead of his pursuers, trying to decide on what to do next.
In the intervening decades, I wrote and rewrote the story again and again, never quite happy with it, even though the overall structure and storyline remained unchanged. Eventually, when I started The Marching Band Emporium, and the challenge of creating something new every day, I put it to one side, assuming it would never see the light day.
Yet earlier this year, wondering whether there might be something I could publish while I work on my upcoming projects, I found it lurking on my computer. Looking at the story with fresh eyes, I saw that there was potential there, but also that it needed some work. However, it quickly pulled into shape, and I was, for the first time, pleased with the way the story unfolds.
I hope you enjoy it.
I remember clearly the image, appearing fully formed in my mind, of a man hiding in a desert valley in the southern states of America, as the early morning sun turns to daylight, wondering what he is going to do next. Who is he, I asked myself. Why is he hiding in the desert? What is he running from?
I tried to picture myself in this situation as maybe being initially fascinated by the desert life in the scrub, before my curiosity gives way to fear, and the ever-present threat of death. Pushing the idea further, I quickly settled on him being an escapee from a plantation in the 19th century, chased by slave catchers, finding himself on the valley floor, a day or so ahead of his pursuers, trying to decide on what to do next.
In the intervening decades, I wrote and rewrote the story again and again, never quite happy with it, even though the overall structure and storyline remained unchanged. Eventually, when I started The Marching Band Emporium, and the challenge of creating something new every day, I put it to one side, assuming it would never see the light day.
Yet earlier this year, wondering whether there might be something I could publish while I work on my upcoming projects, I found it lurking on my computer. Looking at the story with fresh eyes, I saw that there was potential there, but also that it needed some work. However, it quickly pulled into shape, and I was, for the first time, pleased with the way the story unfolds.
I hope you enjoy it.
© L.A. Davenport 2017-2024.
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Sunlight | Pushing the Wave