Eyes To See (Not Continuing)

A Strange Meeting

~Balance~

"Weight is the measure of Balance. Balance means equality. Equality is fair. Fair is right and just." I chant over a purple candle in my new living room. I kneel at a small coffee table, with a purple area rug. My hands find the form of a ball.

My best friend, Ember, kneeled next to me. "Let balance grace our day with its presence, and let it lure sweet sleep in at night. May we touch the others in our lives with balance." She nodded to me.

"Amen." We said in unison. This is how the Balance start their days. Even though I'm not up on the pillar anymore, I still do it. Boy, my life has changed. The scales have tipped, and I'm on the wrong side.

It all started about a week ago. My parents had always worshiped an old God, who was believed in many years before their birth. They spent many sleepless nights praying to him, but they got no reply. I didn't see why they kept up their faith, coming back empty handed all those times. They seemed to believe that when gods swoop down from the heavens to engage in our lives, it damages us. Though one night, they got a reply. They were told of an illness, traveling in the winds. It was going to strike the Balance. This is what lead them to send me away.

Now, Ember and I live in the City Of Four. We are nearly 16, and we have been full Balance for 7 years. Struggling to find a place in society, and working jobs while doing it. We are lucky the landlord was sweet, she allowed us to stay for a cheap price.

After eating breakfast, we both begin to change into our uniforms for work. She got a job teaching transfers from gods the way of the Balance. She also got a beautiful, purple dress. It matches her cloak, short in the front, long in the back. We all have cloaks given to us by our gods. Balance makes their own, and all are different.

I didn't land a Balance job, because I don't hold Balance trademarks for some reason. Some say it is because I am not meant to be Balance, others inform us that I am still a "caterpillar". This is why I wear a waitress outfit with the name "Ju" on it. My full name is Juliana, but I prefer Ju.

"Ju!" Speak of my name. "Hurry up or we will miss the transport!" This motivated me to run out the door, activate the locking system, and rush down the stairs of the giant apartment building. The property is very nice. There are three different buildings surrounding a fountain. The rim is engraved with the symbols for each group (Balance, Love, Hate, Wisdom, Kindness). I wonder why.

At the end of the path connecting to the fountain (and the street), Ember waits. I swear she has some sort of super speed ability. That, or she doesn't delay to eyeball designs on a fountain.

"You look tired." Ember states, frowning.

I run to her side. "I just love having to wake up this early. That's all." I laugh with sarcasm. At least I'm with my best friend, and not some complete stranger. That's what would have happened if Ember hadn't agreed to come.

"Hey! We have no parents to boss us around, no rules, and no limits!" She makes jazz hands for me.

I applaud for her. "Bravo!" Just then the transport appears. I hop onto the long couch with two sides connected to the street. It is hooked up with wires and follows a specific path on the street. This is how everybody gets around. I'm next to a girl who worships Love, and Ember. I glance down the couch to see a boy from the Love city next to the girl.

"Everybody please hang on to your designated handle bars." I quickly grab the bike handle bars in front of me to please the person over the speaker. If I don't, I wonder what will happen.

"Ju..." Ember whispers to me. "I think that boy is asking for a declaration of love." In the City Of Love, when a girl hits 16 years of age, Love fives her a soulmate. Are that, no matter the situation, they must remain together as a couple. When a boy asks for the declaration, he is asking for the soulmate aspect to take effect. He must be her soulmate.

Ember knows many things about Love and her rituals. She once told me that to ask for the declaration, the boy must give a girl a pink rose. Pink being the national colour of Love and all. Before the girl beside me was a rose just as that.

"Austin, I know it was I Love gave you." The boy beside her exclaimed. Austin? That is a unique name. "Please do not avoid it." He squints.

"And you know I will always love you as a friend. Though you have to face the truth. Why do you think I came to this city? I want to be free to choose who I will marry. I worship traditional love customs, and those very customs hold my freedom" Austin began to shift towards me. Why?

"I love you, Aus. I love you with all of my heart. I'm here to bring you back to the streets we used to play on as children. Come with me-" The boy pleaded, only to be interrupted by the girl.

"Donny, I love you too. As I love my mother and father." Austin lifted her chin.

"You cannot stay clear of your fate forever. Follow me now. We are meant to be." Donny stressed the last word.

"If all you have to say are your hurtful words. Your explanation of your petty logic. Leave please." Austin choked, tears welling in her eyes.

"But-"

"Go!" And the boy left go of his handles, activating the breaking system on the transport. It was like this boy couldn't bare to upset his chosen girl. Why would he chase her like that? It must be some Love thing.

"Hey." Ember acknowledges Austin from behind me. She has a hint of kindness in her.

Tears steamed from the girl's eyes. "Hi." She answers softly.

"Don't listen to him, sweet pea!" Ember cries. "You may love him as a friend if you please! Loving your life is more important!"

"I guess." Austin wipes her eyes.

"Do you know where the traditional Love worshipers meet?" I ask. I'm not very good with comforting people, so changing the subject is the perfect door out.

"No. I'm living on the street right now!" She sobs. "I have about $120 in my purse, but that is all I have."

Oh great, I made her cry some more. I watched as a tear hit her beautiful, pink cloak. It was a button up that had a nice poof at the waist. It looked like a lovely dress. It commented her tight, blonde curls perfectly. They went down to her shoulders.

"$120! That's a lot!" Ember tried, but only made Austin cry harder.

I had to make this right. It hurt to watch my best friend suffer, and Austin ball. It was kind of my fault anyway. Finally, it hit me. "Come with me to the coffeehouse I work at. You can make money washing dishes, and stay with us at night. I mean, if it's okay with Ember." Oh how Ember glared at me. She had a murderous look on her face.

"Our plan wasn't to have anyone move in, Ju." She tried to smile for Austin's sake.

"She's homeless!" I plead. I pressed on her gaping wound, unleashing her kindness side.

"We will have to ask our landlord, but if you can pull your weight with a job; we would be happy to have you stay." Ember was clearly dying inside. Her voice popped into my head. "Juliana! Our parents would shun us! A stranger from the street stay with us?!" Her stupid Balance powers! She could just speak with me without lifting her perfect lips from each other! I wanted that! Why did I have to be a caterpillar?

Instead, I thought back to her, knowing she was still in my head. "Well if they do, Kindness will surely take us in!" I smiled and she almost lost it. Good thing the coffeehouse was nearing.

"Negative vibes." Austin shook her head. Little curls bounced around. "I would be happy to work for my own apartment, if that would bring love once again."

Ember's shock appeared in her answer, seeping in between words. "No, I'll be fine. As long as I get a coffee and a muffin after work!" We both laughed, but Austin never made a sound.

"If that is what you please to make things better, why are we laughing? Isn't this a serious matter if she requires an item to sooth her heart?" Oh, petty Love devotees.

"It's a joke, silly!" I laugh, patting her on the back.

"I do not understand." Austin shakes her head. "She needs something from you-"

Ember interrupts. "It's funny because she has to make it for me."

"So you will not make it? That is why it is funny?"

"It's funny because I will, even though I don't have to." I smile, gripping Ember's hand.