Birthstone

The full thing

I've always found them weird. You know, that they're just in our bodies. That they just exist. It's weird isn't it? I mean I know everybody's born with them, but I wasn't...I wasn't born with a stone or a crystal.. Everybody else has them, placed somewhere upon there skin, whether it be on the for head, belly ,or even back but not me...I wonder why I have to be so different from everybody else...I do wonder...Hi my names Akio... I hate my name. I feel like my parents were hoping I'd do something with my life by giving it to me, but despite my names meaning I am no hero. I wish I had a different one. Anyways my story starts on the day of the festival.

"Akio" My mother yelled for me "ここにお出で" "coming!" I yelled back to her in our language. We speak Japanese in our house, my parents were persistent upon me learning the language, even if it is not used in our village. In fact the only language used in our village is COLINI. I do not speak it very well. So I write and take notes in English, another language forbidden to be used. I realize that is it dangerous to use forbidden languages, especially in a town effected like ours, but I do so anyways, in mere hopes that I am never caught. If I were to be it would be disastrous. Even still I have no idea why English and Japanese are forbidden, I'm aware the COLINI is the language of the elders but still uncertain.

I got up ate food "いただきます" and was quickly on my way. I adjusted my binder as I ran. I was late for the ceremony something uncommon for someone of my families status after all, my family generally has crystal's, and crystals are held in high regard here. Stones such as rocks, or coral are considered to be low rank. My parents keep my lack of a crystal a secret for if anyone were to find out I may be sent to exile. They make up excuse after excuse as to why I shan't show my "crystal" to anyone, often saying its in improper places. However it gets me by, without having to die. I ran up to my friend, Chin. Chin is very special to me. I like him more then I should.

It's forbidden that kind of love in my village, yet it doesn't keep the feelings away.

"hey, what's up?" He asked in COLINI. He knows I'm not very good at speaking it so he often asks simple questions to help me get by.

"good" I responded.

"cool" He replied. He has no idea of my thoughts towards him, nor any idea of my wishes for him, however even if I wished to let him know, its not as if I'd be able to communicate that with him.

"are you exited about the ceremony?"

"yes" I was exited true, but not in the positive sense. I was weary of such coordination. It's when they decide what our profession will be. Based on our stone's status. I'm assumed to have a sapphire making me worthy of noble positions, while other's like Chin who have rocks, will be placed in lower raking positions such as farmer, or bar tender. Chin has a rock in the palm of his hand known only as Syenite. It's a grey color with many different speckles and rough to the touch. Sometimes I wonder if Chin knows English, normally that rock is only given to English speakers. Which is why its of a low position. I don't speak English very well, I barley speak it at all. My grammar and spelling is pore. But I still try to write in it as much as possible, in hopes of improving this. I traveled with Chin, to the place, where the festival is held. I waited as patiently as I could, and held the sapphire, within, my stomach. People here are very gullible, they will believe anything usually with a lack of proof. It's easy to lie to those who are here, and they will never know the wiser. I was finally called upon. I walked up to the stage. Before hand I put the small sapphire within my stomach, and sucked in, creating the illusion of having a gem, well. An illusion for the unwise. I stood upon the stage with the gem inside my stomach. I watched as the man, who was assigning positions ordered me to reveal my gem. I watched with eager faces within the crowd. No one had seem my gem, mostly because I didn't have one to show. The man examined it. With eager and anticipation.