Because Of You

Chapter 1:

Chapter 1:

I know why you're here. You're here for the story. The story I'm about to tell you. Some of you will find it rather charming. Others may not find it that way. However you choose to take this story, understand that it's my story. And you can't change it no matter how much you want too.

Let's see here... My name is Jerome. Jerome Aceti. I'm a 21 year old bacca; I grew up in the forest with my village friends and family. Nowadays I live in a peaceful cottage on top of a cliff, somewhat isolated from the nearby town I'm technically apart of. The sunsets are always beautiful, the river sparkling and the scent of fresh water filling my lungs. But you aren't here for the details over the here and now, so I'll stop myself before I rush ahead. Where should I start...? How about the beginning?

When I was young, I lived in one of the many different bacca villages. They were all close together, so it was more like the bacca empire if you ask me. Everyone knew everyone, that's how our people manage. Every child is taught the same way and tested for strength, agility, and smarts. We're a very excepting race and could care less about how you choose to act. It's you! Of course, we are a society; therefore we do follow the rules like everyone else. The only difference is the fact we don't have curfews or guards constantly guarding our little "empire". We're secluded in the forest, though sometimes we do get people passing through.

Growing up there were some of the best years of my life. Everyone loved each other in a brotherly, sisterly manor, and no one was ever excluded. Hell, we could be in the middle of game and would start over just so the other person could join us. Every day was a new adventure. I spent the first 8 years of my life with my neighborhood friends, some of them twice my age while others could have been younger than I was. No one cared. Because it wasn't your age, weight, name, height, or any of those things that were judged. No one was ever judged, and if a fight started, it'd be over in a minute flat before the people fighting made up like nothing had happened. That's how close everyone is.

My father had an excellent job when I was growing up. He gifted me a suit one year and I still have it. It's been fixed up so many times, but I won't get rid of it, I can just get someone to make it bigger if I need. No, I wore that suit every day I could, I had a few of them, I still do have a few of them, don't get me wrong here. It's the most comfortable suit in the world. My friends all thought it was amazing, but I'm getting off topic again. Let's see... Right, so my dad had an amazing job in one of the major cities of MineCraftia. It paid a major amount, as you can imagine, and everyone in the village was proud of my father. I was too.

Then, one day when I was 9, my father came home, as happy as ever, though... concerned, I think. He asked to speak to my mom privately, so I went back outside to find my friends. They talked and talked for nearly an hour, and thinking something was wrong, I went home and called out for them. Their hushed conversation stopped and my mother was nearly instantly in the front room. I had tilted my head, staring at her, worried.

"Sweet heart, what's wrong?" She had soothing asked, kneeling down in front of me.

"Why are you and dad talking so much?" Her expression fell slightly, and I knew the look she was giving me, but she stood up again, smiling down at me to try and hide it. She had been keeping something from me.

"Um... Honey?" At mom's call, dad came into the room, confused looking. She nervously laughed, walking over to him and motioning to me. "Tell Jerome what you told me." Dad gave me a smile, though he still looked nervous.

"Jerome, I got a promotion." He announced. I smiled. No, I didn't understand at the time why they made a huge deal about it, and unfortunately, I was about to receive an answer. "And now I'm being relocated to Spawn City- my job, I mean. My job is being relocated." And at those few words, my face fell.

"You're leaving...?" He chuckled slightly.

"No, of course not." At that I once again smiled.

"Oh, ok. I'm going to go play." I turned, opening the front door.

"Jerome, we're moving." He called. I remember hearing those words and my entire world had just shattered. I remember going up to him and asking why? I begged- I didn't want to leave! My entire life was in our bacca empire, why would I want to leave? Leave behind all of my friends? Leave behind my house? The streets I know like the back of my hand? I cried and begged to him- sobbed my little 8 year old heart out. But nothing worked. What about school, I had questioned? My studies? I may have been 8, but school was a fun time for me. I didn't have "teachers", I had friends. All of the teachers were my friends- friends with all the students. And the fighting class! I was a star student in that class. All I knew about our fighting class was that they didn't teach you that in the MineCraftia schools. I'd be losing my favorite class, my friends and family, my life. All for some dumb old job?

My dad was as hard as a rock; he wouldn't break to tears, not like mom. I knew that, and yet I still tried for 10 straight minutes. But by the end of the night I was sobbing face down on my bed in my dark room, my clothing and anything I couldn't live without packed up and ready to leave. Tomorrow.

At the time, I honestly couldn't believe it was happening, but sure enough, it happened. I haven't been home in a while... I should go home... No, I think I'll stay at my cottage for now.  That's the first piece to my story. "The Tragic Beginning" of it. It even brought a faint smile to my face, how pleasant. What should I talk about next...?