The 2025 J.U.C. Awards | Submitted Category: WRITING / Short Story | Submission Code: W13 #JUC2025 | Dedication theme: #WaterActionDecade | Word count: 1267

Arid Dreams Of A Thirsty Girl

[#JUCAwards2025] Eva opened her eyes to warm sunlight. She looked outside of her window, went to the sink to wash her face, pulled the tap, and… no water? “A water shortage, maybe?” she thought to herself. She wondered how she would start her day without even washing her face or drinking water. Unfortunately, the day was still going on. Therefore, she got out of the bathroom and went directly down to the living room, just to find a bunch of big water bottles placed in the center of the living room. As she questioned what was happening, her mom started talking:

-Can you help me carry these, dear?

Eva seemed more exhausted than ever, probably from carrying these bottles all the way in.

+Sure.
-Just put them in the kitchen, please. Thank you.

Eva helped her mom bring the bottles one by one. She neither understood nor wanted to ask what was going on. Just wished a normal morning, nothing more. Her mom yawned as she got to the kitchen.

-Oh, the struggles I went through to get my hands on these.

+What is going on?

-The government limited the water. The water levels decreased intensely or something like that. It was all over the internet last night. Therefore, water is given by hand every Monday morning now.

“It couldn’t be that bad.” She thought. She saw this happen in movies. However, she never thought this day would have come. “At least all of these bottles should be plenty for a week or two.”

+Wow, okay. Can I boil some eggs? I’m starving.

-Of course. I am going to get ready for work. +Okay, bye.

Eva’s mom left the kitchen. Eva played some music and got the stewpan out. She put the eggs in and went to the tab to fill it with some water. Oh, there is no water. She picked up one of the bottles and filled the pan with water. She boiled it and ate it as normal. Nothing unordinary. She thought deep into this whole water thing. She saw some videos online while scrolling, yet she never understood why it was such a catastrophic event for everyone. Why was it such a big deal? Yes, she knew the importance of it, but there was still some left, and that would be enough. Or will it? Her deep thoughts were interrupted by the voice of her mother.

-Bye sweetie. I am leaving. Don’t waste our water, okay? -Goodbye mom. I won’t.

Eva heard the door close, thinking the water would be enough. “Where do we use it anyway?” She said to herself as she looked at the bottles. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. One for a day is pretty good. Well, less than a quarter of it has gone to breakfeast.” She used some to wash her hands and do the dishes.

Eva filled her water bottle to go for a run. 30 percent already down the drain. The rest of her day was nothing significant or odd. She spent time on her phone, read, and did nothing. Her mom came in at seven as usual. Eva didn’t notice, as she was too focused on her phone.

-Didn’t I tell you to use the water efficiently?

Eva looked up. Her mom’s scream scared her a little bit.

+Sorry, I just used what I needed.
-Well, now we barely have enough for dinner.

Has she used that much? She didn’t even notice. Just like how she didn’t notice why having limited water would be a struggle for her.

The rest of the evening was bearable except for the water part. Eva couldn’t drink enough water; she couldn’t shower; she had just enough water to wash her face and brush her teeth at the end of the day.

Unfortunately, next morning came so swiftly. A little bit more swiftly than yesterday. Eva still uncounciosly tried to pull the tabs even though she knew they didn’t work. She was a little skeptical about her thought now, probably not drinking water before bed hit hard on her.

Everything was still the same as yesterday, or every other day actually. She felt a bit drained and didn’t know why. She didn’t go for a run today. She drank less water as she wanted to shower today. She spent the day lying and licking her lips to make them less dry.

Eva finally decided to get up after hours of nothing. She wanted to take a shower. She got the bottle and went inside the shower. Using as little water as she could, she tried to wash her hair and her whole body. She struggled to even keep the bottle in her hands; the fear of it falling down scared her to every bit. Little by little, slowly, she was done. However, it didn’t feel clean. She thought about the days she could spend hours in the shower and how water drops went down her body as soft music played next to her. She missed having access to water.

With each day, her water usage decreased and misery increased. It was like an important part of Eva’s life was toren apart from her. She felt guilty about how she talked when water was first limited. She never really saw how bad it could get. Each day went on by saying, “How worse can it get?” and each day waking up felt more like a punishment. She remembers how she never pulled down the tap while brushing her teeth, how she spent hours in showers, and how she poured the water down the tap when she couldn’t drink it. She looked at all the clothes she didn’t and never needed. Maybe she was the one who caused this with all others— all eight billion people. She always thought, “Well, it is only one time.” whenever she wasted water, but that is what everyone told themselves. Unfortunately, it is still one time if eight billion people do it.

…

We watch our lives go down the drain of the sink,

We slowly design our own murder with every single second in the shower. Each extra pair of chloting turns into a coffin.
Yet we still act like there is nothing.

Destroying our future swiftly, Every wasted drop is another’s soul, The problem might not be visible, But it will be very soon.

…

Eva opened her eyes in her room. However, everything seemed different. Everything seemed brighter. The sun was shining, and birds were singing louder. This seemed to light her up somehow. She got out of bed a little bit less miserable. She went to the bathroom and pulled the sink reflexively, like she always did. However, it actually opened. She was in shock. She finally thought the water came back. Therefore, she quickly ran down stairs and hugged her mom thightly. Eva’s mom was caught by surprise.

-A little energetic this morning? +Water came back!
-What?
+Water is flowing from the sink again.

Eva’s mom laughed at Eva’s sillyness.

-Did you have a nightmare or something?

She still continued giggling. Eva felt a bit embarrassed. It may have been a dream. However, she didn’t care. She was happier than ever.

+I think so.

Eva also laughed and then went up stairs to the bathroom. She opened the sink and wet her toothbrush. She started brushing, remembering to close the tap this time. She thought about how lucky she had been all of her life without even noticing it. Even the feel of water in her hands made her feel thankful for her life.

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The 2025 J.U.C. Awards | Submitted Category: WRITING / Short Story | Submission Code: W13 #JUC2025 | Dedication theme: #WaterActionDecade | Word count: 1267

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