After the machine roared to life, clear water gushed up from the ground, ready to be used however you pleased.

After the machine roared to life, clear water gushed up from the ground, ready to be used however you pleased.

When the machine started, you stood by, watching. The deafening roar filled your ears as the drill rod circled downwards, bringing up increasingly damp soil. Your heart pounded with the sound, unsure how long it would take, unsure if water would even come out, and you just waited.

Suddenly, the sound changed. The moment the drill rod was pulled out, water gushed from the pipe, splashing you all over. Cool, clear, with an earthy smell. You wiped your face, not flinching, but instead leaning closer. You squatted down, cupped your hands, and took a sip—it was sweet. At that moment, you knew that from now on, water would no longer be a problem.

"Ready to use however you please." These were words you could only dream of before, but now they were a reality. The vegetable garden could be thoroughly watered without the need for careful watering; the well could be filled to the brim with water for washing clothes, eliminating the need to use one basin for the whole family; the children could play in the water as they pleased, since the well water was inexhaustible. Watching the water gush away, you felt no heartache, only a strange sense of satisfaction.

It wasn't waste, it was peace of mind. The water was there, the well was there; you could use it whenever you wanted, as much as you wanted. No need to worry about the weather, no need to wait for a water truck, no need to beg for help. You were the manager of your own reservoir; just turn the switch, and the water flowed.

After the machine finished running, clean water gushed up from underground, and you could use it however you pleased. From that day on, your life, like the water, was free.