𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 - 𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄

𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭

    Amity is all about peace and happiness. No war is welcomed here. Everyone knew that. Although i was always at war with myself. Silently and secretly. I couldn't find the meaning to sing songs, create art or volunteer in the land. I felt like i didn't belong. Like i had to work for it. It is like that when people look at you like you're a disgrace to the faction. They all said that i was ruining the reputation of Amity, but it wasn't my fault and Johanna Reyes, our representative, knew that too well.

She took care of me from when i was a baby and never judged me for the family i came from or more specifically for why my mother never told anyone who my father was. Years ago it was a big deal for all the factions. A woman who was pregnant and a father that didn't want to acknowledge the existence of his own daughter. That's what everyone was saying. I could be walking the green fields of Amity and my father could be just a few steps away from me without me knowing it. This was the biggest dishonesty of all. Someone that didn't say they had a daughter, with the excuse of keeping the peace, but whose peace is it keeping?.

For years i felt a certain hunger inside me that i couldn't express in the slightest. A rage to find my father and ask him why. If i had a mother, maybe it wouldn't be such a big problem, but seeing everyone growing up with their families, making friends easily, not being ashamed of saying their names, was enough for me to always have the urge to jump of a tree.

I would never do that of course, thanks to the peace serum they give us everyday so we won't start an idiotic fight. I knew that someday, i will be able to change my fate, make my own name and have power upon others and most importantly, within myself.

"How come i always find you upon this tree", i heard a familiar voice and i looked down to look at Johanna. I liked being at the woods, it cleared my head. "I'm meditating", i said smiling. From when i was little, i climbed trees, trying to find the best view to look at everyone and also find a place where i can simply be myself, feel my emotions instead of hiding them. "Well it's time to get down. You'll have to go for your aptitude test with the others", she moved her hand behind her showing me the people of Amity get into the bus. I slowly climbed down the tree, feet touching the ground and fixed my clothes from leaves and dirt on my green pants and red shirt.

"Don't worry. Everything will be alright. They will tell you what to do", she hugged me and i gave her a second smile as i was leaving to catch the bus, "I'll do my best".

• • •

The bus was filled with laughters and songs, but my heart was pounding like it was about to explode. I didn't know what i should be ready for. My nails were almost cutting my skin, for the first time i felt completely alone. "It seems like you're a bit worried for the test", i looked at Carla. Pixie blonde hair and a yellow dress that hid the whole attitude she was ready to throw at me. "I have nothing to worry", i looked outside the window trying to distract myself. "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, but it must be difficult not being able to keep Amity's footsteps, you know, since your mother was so bad at it", i stood up and looked at her straight in the eye, "You have no right to talk to me like that. I have done nothing to you, but be nice. I've never told anyone of how you treat me", i tried to look serious, but the laughs and the whole music made me look weak for another time, because my words had no meaning upon her. "You're right. Now you tell me who would they believe?".

I stayed silent. Everyone would believe that i was creating trouble out of nothing. "Everything ok back there?", the driver asked while he stopped the bus as we had arrived at our destination. "Yes. Can you please open the door?", Carla asked telling her friends to follow her. "There you go", the driver said and i made my way out with fast steps.