"Andrew Finnigan, you are hereby charged with conspiring against our community and lifestyle. Because of this you are sentenced to live forever in the down worlds where you will forget you even had a life other than outside them. You may say your final goodbyes now..." That was 10 years ago. I was six at the time. Andrew Finnigan is my father. Mum says I should at least try to forget him as there is no probable way that I will ever see him again, but I can't stop replaying the memory in my head. The last time I saw him was right after the ancient one ( they are the rulers of our
world ) said to say goodbye. I clearly recall the desperation in his last words to my mother and I "never forget me, I will return one day. Never forget me..." And then he was dragged off by law givers. He struggled and pulled away only to make us answer his question. I promised to never forget him, but mum, She just looked him in the eyes and said "I make no promises out of fear or sadness" he then smiled and went freely with the law givers, as if he had come to accept his fate.
As I wandered back up the ravine, I heard laughing and cheerful chattering. As I neared home, my neighbour children Sophie and Bonnie ran up to me and started jabbering. "Did you hear, did you hear?" " hear what exactly?" I asked. "Your brother has decided to catch the train into the over-world! He is leaving tomorrow" I felt a mixture of emotions, although I could only identify one which was shock. As I dwelled on it more, I realised that the other emotion I was feeling was... Betrayal. How could my brother leave my mother and I when we have already lost our father and husband? " where is he now?" I asked, barely keeping my anger at bay " everyone is celebrating his mature thought through decision and they are all at your house. Couldn't you hear them from the ravine?" Yeah I could now that I focused on it. "Where exactly is he in the house?" I asked. Basically we were as a family considered poor in status and slightly better off in wealth, but not by much. However our house is actually quite big with some hidden passages that my brother and i had found over the years "He is in his room" Sophie piped up. "Good, I need to talk to him..." As I approached the house, many people congratulated me on my brothers desicion but I ignored them. All I could focus on was the feeling of my brother betrayal and the anger bubbling just below the surface.
I didn't mean to be rude, because the cheeriness and happiness for one another is expected in our lifestyle because we cherish the fruitful aspects of life. Kindness, love, happiness, respect, bravery, courage, selflessness, gentleness, honorability and dignity. These are virtually the laws of our lives. If we break any of these rules it means instant exile. That is what happened to my father. You see, my world survives on the cooperation and happiness of it's citizens, that's why we're all 'happy'. (Well that's how we are supposed to be anyway) Although, our world is pretty weird. There is 2 worlds in one, our world and the over world. Our people go to the over world when they want more freedom, but they have no idea what it will be like. It is called the leap of faith ceremony which happens when we turn 16. There is a train which goes between worlds and at the place of no return as we call it, there is a hidden path which my father showed me where you can watch the train go through the 'portal' as he called it. From there you can see the new world and how it changes.
I go there a lot. It is one of the few remaining memories of my father that I have. As I stopped to think, someone rushed up to me. It was my mother. And she was crying. " please, please stop your brother. I can't lose him as well... Please" "okay , mum, relax. I was going to talk to him now. I'll try to convince him to stay, but..." I hesitated "I know, I know, he probably won't listen, but at least you would have tried with me." She finished for me. She turned and went to leave, but then looked back and her eyes were welling with tears. As I looked at her, she smiled a weak smile and walked away. 'I need to talk to him' I thought to myself with new determination as I walked towards the house 'I need to talk to him...'
As I approached my brothers room, I realised that if I didn't convince him to stay, my mother and I would be alone and next year, when I turn 16, I will be forced to make the decision to leave my mother alone with no family, or stay and live with my mother. I know what would be the right decision but I can't help but wonder what the over world is like and how it feels to experience a whole new life... But I can't leave my mother without feeling guilty unless I convince my brother to stay, but why should I be the one to decide everyone's fate.
'Why am I making this so difficult, and I haven't even talked to my brother yet!' I thought to myself. I felt like screaming. As I shook my head to clear my thoughts, I hit my head on a familiar door frame. 'He must be more foolish than I thought if he has the guts to leave his door open in this situation with a sister like me' I thought with disdain. As I entered the room what I saw looked like a bomb had hit it. There were clothes piled on the bed and any other normally clear surface. There were bags and bags of ornaments and books already stacked near the door. And then I saw him. He was concentrating on packing so much he didn't even notice me. After 1 minute I cleared my throat. "Ummm, what the heck do you think your doing?" He looked startled, but his face broke into a smile when he saw me. "GG, I'm goin' to the over world!" I glared at him "you don't say..."
