Two Worlds (Two Worlds #1)

Desires

The next day, Marion departed together with Cordelia and Hannah. Before leaving, all three of them had grasped Juliet's both hands and told her to send a message if anything happened. Juliet merely smiled and asked them not to worry themselves to death before reaching their destination. It would be a shame, considering how important that ceremony was for Marion's future.

After a year's stock of "buts" and "ifs", the women reluctantly stepped up onto the carriage and bid their farewells. As soon as they disappeared from the valley, the young girl let out a relieved sigh. There was not an ounce of doubt left, they really did care for her.

Sixteen years ago, Juliet was born in a town somewhere far east. She knew very little about her mother, but apparently, the woman got terribly sick when Juliet was four, yet she took care about her until she died. After her mother's death, Juliet was sent to an orphanage in another town. That was where she met Marion, although she had no personal memories about their first meeting. When Juliet was living her sixth year, Marion had her fifteenth birthday, and was released from the orphanage as she had entered an age where women could take care of themselves. At that point, Marion cared all too much for Juliet to leave her there, and so she brought the child with her.

Marion told Juliet about this when she was twelve, as she remembered nothing about her childhood, but Juliet or the other women occasionally asked her to retell the emotional story.

Marion was offered her piece of land on the countryside, and that's where she went together with Juliet. The next year, Marion's friend from the orphanage, Cordelia, moved in with them, and soon after came Hannah. Together they were like a little family, and Juliet loved them more than anyone in the whole wide world.

Juliet sighed again, and turned around to see the giant wall far away from their home. Behind their little cottage was a deep river that separated them from the monstrous building at the end of the valley. Of course she knew, that Juliet. Of course she had been told by Marion and the others, about the race called 'Man' living on the other side. Men, who looked like women yet different. Every time she tried to picture how they looked it just ended up in failure, despite Juliet being praised for her otherwise so lively imagination. It was very rare for her to go to the offered education although Marion encouraged her to do so, and most of the things she knew of came either from her own experience or someone else's. For most of her life she had been able to live without troubling herself with such matters, but now she started to discover a sudden urge to know more about the men on the other side.

And those feelings scared her. After all, everyone knew about the most important Decision.

When Romeo was finally able to put down the last sack of oats, he straightened his back and let out a long, pleasant sigh. The old man he was working for handed over the pennies that made his salary, and said that work was done for the day. Romeo immediately started walking down the hill in a fairly high speed, just in case the old uncle would come up with some more work for him to do. Money was good, but Romeo still cared for his health.

Two days had passed since his conversation with the old teacher, and it had left a huge impact on him. However, it probably wasn't the kind of effect mr Mortimer had wished for. Instead, the young man's desire for change was growing more and more for every day that passed him by. Of course Romeo knew that his thoughts were dangerous, but as long as he was able to restrain them, he wouldn't get in trouble. Somehow, there must be a way to change this country for the better and still avoid the death penalty.

"You know Romeo, you really shouldn't be telling me this". Romeo remembered the words uttered by his only close friend, Raven. It was probably a week ago that one of Romeo's many ideas slipped out in one of their conversations. His best friend had given him a troubled look, saying that those thoughts were as prohibited as it could get. "Not only will you get in trouble, but me as well" was his words, and he pleaded to his friend not to say such things. Romeo understood and respected that wish of his, and realized himself that if he said such things to the wrong people, the life he knew would slip out of his hands like a breeze in the summer. And so, he apologized sincerely to Raven who merely laughed and said that it was okay, as long as he kept it all inside. It felt a bit sad, but Romeo was still determined to somehow make life better for the land of men.