Her pale face glistered in the sunshine. I grabbed her malnourished hand ; closing my eyes in a desperate attempt of preventing a waterfall of tears from overflowing.
"Mom, I've been working hard, and the future the system promised me is finally coming to light; I need you more than ever. Why did you and Dad not believe in the system ?why?why?why!"I cried out as tears finally broke through .
I opened my eyes to find my mom fitted upright gazing at me with a smile .
"Ohh my child how well youve grown"She grabbed my chicks , calmly removing the tears .
"Don't choose the path the system set for you , but choose the one of a Warior, and only then will you know the truth. I'm sorry, my son, for bringing you into this corrupt world. I intrust it's future to you pl..."she began to disintegrate .
"Mom, no! Don't leave me, I...I...I..I don't understand!"I tried to grab her hand, but it was too late .
"Mr Kael, are you alright?" ,she nurse gently grabbed my shoulder.
"Where's my mom she...she was just here!"I roughly grabbed her collar with tears in my eyes
" What are you talking about sir your mom died along with your father in the military 6 years ago"
The heavens seemed to be crying in my place as I stared at their grave .
Shia Boru
2019-2044 2015-2044
It was all so clear. I thought as I got soaked by the rain . Thunder striked , and in desperation, I tried digging their graves .
"Kael, you have bereavement hallucinations"
NO!,NO!,NO,no . I can't be going mad . Not even the thunder could cover my wailing. After a while, I allowed the rain to wash my bruised hands, placed my hands in my coat pocket, and left.
Walking past a park, I saw a child playing with his mother . I reached out my hand, and for a while, it lay there motionless . A butterfly lay there elegantly; folding my hand I semi crushed it , but I let it go . And as it flew of it glitched and disappeared.
Amia stood apart from the crowd, still and radiant. Her smile found me soft. It was perfect, almost too flawless to be real. She was the one I was promised a future with.
"Why do you look so pale?" she asked, her voice as angelic as ever, a touch of nervous laughter beneath it. "Honestly, I'm a fright right now."
We both watched in silence as others were sorted,some pushed through the red gate, bound for the warrior sector; others to the blue,the noble sector, their futures quieter, calmer. Only a rare few were given the choice of both.
"We hope you both have a blessed future, just as the system promised," her parents said warmly, pressing a delicate, heart-shaped necklace into my hand.
They embraced her tightly, whispering blessings. I stood by, oddly apart, a strange emptiness curling in my chest. It hit me then that I was missing something. Something I hadn't realized I'd lost.
Hand in hand, we walked toward the stage. The crowd clapped, calling out their well wishes. The system responded with a hum, opening both gates :red and blue.
Amia gripped my hand tighter, her smile bright as she tugged gently toward the blue gate. This was everything I'd wanted. Everything I'd worked for. So why did my steps feel heavy? Why did doubt claw at the edge of my thoughts?
She stepped forward.
I hesitated.
And then...I let go.
My only word was, "Sorry."
I turned and ran toward the red gate. Was it emotion? Was it the vision I'd had of my mother? I don't know. All I knew in that moment, as I raced forward, was that her face my mother's was the only thing on my mind.