The cruelty of humans made my heart shatter. Remember that everything today may not be tomorrow.
"I—"
Before I could finish my sentence, the sticks of others were raised, poised to strike. What a day that a girl could be disrespected by others. This world was divided, and yes, there was discrimination in the world of beauty.
From a young age, we girls were taught to be beautiful, to wear uncomfortable clothing, and to manage layers of makeup to hide perceived ugliness. We were told to maintain confidence through appearance. Allow me to share the truth of the world I'm living in.
The kingdom of Beauti was ruled by Queen Royalashi, who had divided beauty into three factions: the Ugly Faction, where everyone was treated like trash; the Beauty Faction, where the rich and beautiful lived and were treated like royalty; and the Gorgeous Faction, where the most beautiful lived as true royalty.
My sister Asli, Asi, and I were born to beautiful parents. They expected us to be the next generation of beauty. To our shock, Asli was exceptionally beautiful, while Asi and I were not. We were separated from our parents and placed in the Ugly Faction with our aunt. I was so young I barely remember the transition. I spent ten years in poverty, waiting for the rich to throw scraps of food for us to eat. It was gross, but what could we do?
Despite the hardship, we were happy with our aunt and sister. Every ten years, there was the Beauty Test, which determined our faction based on our beauty. The machines used for this test were created by the Queen, as everyone said, so I believed them. From a young age, we were taught about beauty but not the true essence of it.
I longed to escape our impoverished life and experience the luxury of the Beauty Faction. Today was the day of the Beauty Test, and I was both excited and nervous.
"Citizen 997."
My sister Asli was called first. I was overjoyed for her.
"Your beauty is 89. You're going to the Beauty Faction. Congratulations!"
"Woo! Sis, you did it!" I cheered.
"Citizen 998."
My name was called. My heart raced with a mix of fear and hope.
"Your beauty is 83."
I celebrated quietly, hoping for the best. But then:
"Oh, wait. The machine has a problem. Let's try again."
"Your beauty is 38. You will stay here."
My heart sank. Tears streamed down my face as I ran home. I wanted to be in the Beauty Faction too, but it seemed so unfair. My sister tried to comfort me before leaving for the Beauty Faction and meeting our parents. I found a phone discarded by the rich and learned to use it. Through it, I communicated with Asli.
"Meet me next door to the Beauty Faction. I'll sneak you in."
I was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing the Beauty Faction, even if just for a moment. I ran away from home, shouting, "Aunt, I'm going to a happy place!" as I dashed off.
With Asli's help, I managed to sneak into the Beauty Faction wearing a mask to avoid detection. For a few minutes, everything seemed fine. But soon, the beautiful people noticed me.
"Wait, I can explain—"
I didn't get the chance to finish my plea. The beauties looked at me with disgust.
"Ew, what a shame. Why are you here, trash?"
"Ewwww, get this ugly out!"
"You don't belong here, ugly!"
Before I could react, the sticks of the others were raised, about to hit me. This was the day a girl could be disrespected by others. The world was divided, and there was clear discrimination in the realm of beauty.
The pain of their cruelty was overwhelming. My feelings were crushed under the weight of their disdain. My poor eyes, filled with tears, were attacked by their cruelty. I cried and begged them to let me stay, but they—
The beating began. The pain was searing, not just physical but emotional. I was bruised and broken, not just from the sticks but from the realization that the world was so unjust. I had tried to fit into a place that would never accept me, no matter how hard I tried.
Amid the chaos, I caught sight of a figure watching from the shadows—an older woman, with eyes that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of this cruel society. She approached me with a calm, authoritative presence.
"Enough!" she commanded. The beating halted, and the crowd parted as the woman stepped forward.
"You," she said to me, her voice firm yet compassionate, "are a symbol of what's wrong with this world. The injustice, the cruelty—it all stems from the flawed notion that beauty should determine one's worth."
The crowd murmured, unsettled by her words.
"This girl," the woman continued, "has shown courage by daring to seek a life beyond her assigned fate. We have been blinded by superficial judgments for too long."
The woman turned to me. "What is your name?"
"Aosi," I managed to reply, my voice trembling.
"Aosi, you have been through so much. You deserve more than this. We all do. Today, you will not be punished for your courage. Instead, you will help us bring change."
The woman's intervention caused a stir among the beautiful people, many of whom were realizing the gravity of the situation. Her presence had a powerful effect on the crowd, making them reconsider their actions and attitudes.
She led me away from the scene, guiding me to a place of refuge. Here, she introduced herself as Elara, a former member of the Queen's inner circle who had grown disillusioned with the oppressive system.
"The Queen's regime is built on maintaining division and inequality," Elara explained. "But there is a growing movement against it. You can be a part of that change."
Over the next days, Elara and I worked together with other rebels to expose the injustices and rally support for a more equitable society. The revelations and testimonies from those who had suffered under the Queen's rule fueled a growing demand for reform.
The movement gained momentum, and soon, protests and demonstrations spread throughout the kingdom. People from all factions came together, united by the desire for justice and equality.
Finally, the day came when we confronted Queen Royalashi. The palace was surrounded by a sea of protesters demanding change. Elara and I, along with the leaders of the movement, entered the palace to face the Queen.
"Your reign is over," Elara declared. "The people have had enough of your cruelty and discrimination."
The Queen, once so confident and unyielding, now faced a reckoning. The movement's pressure forced her to listen to the cries for justice. She was dethroned, and the kingdom began the process of rebuilding.
Aosi, once a symbol of the unjust system, became a beacon of hope. With Elara's guidance, we worked to create a new society where beauty was no longer a measure of worth but a diverse and celebrated aspect of individuality.
As the kingdom began to heal, I looked back on the journey with a mixture of sorrow and hope. The eyes of blood, once filled with pain and despair, now looked forward to a future of equality and compassion.
The cruelty of the old world had been vanquished by the courage and determination of those who refused to accept injustice. The scars remained, but they were a reminder of the strength it took to forge a new path.
In the end, the story of Aosi and the fight against the tyranny of beauty became a legend—a testament to the power of resilience and the enduring quest for a world where everyone is valued for who they are, not how they look.