Hidden Leaf

Chapter 1

As long as Luna could remember she was always enchanted with the unknown. At the age of six, her late grandma told her stories of her adventures around the world. She told the little girl how she traversed the expansive jungle, crossed a large body of water with only her wits, and even visited the seven wonders of the world. Luna could only stare in amazement.

"Grandma, I want to travel the world as well."

Seeing the glee in her eyes with enthusiasm, her grandma laughed in a silly manner. Although her granddaughter was the type to be quite courageous at some time, she knew she was not yet at the height of such a feat.

"I'm sure you will. But first, you have to go to school."

Hearing the word 'school' Luna sighed away and turned her head the other way in disgust.

"No. I want to go now." Luna started a tantrum.

"But you will, Luna." The grandma said. "It is hard to believe it but I went to school before I went on my adventure."

Hearing her grandma talk about the word school again, in a different light, made Luna curious about it more.

"Why did you go to school, Grandma?" She asked.

Grandma was silent. She didn't want to explain why they go to school - only for the sole purpose of education. The life she was at the time was a different experience for her. But now, in an era of peace, she didn't want her little one to experience what she had gone through. During her lifetime it was a very difficult journey for her when she was still at her prime. The life she endured was good and also bad. She struggled many times before she could find a stable home. If Luna lived like her she would regret it. She wanted the best for her. She wanted Luna to live a life that most of her generation could not have the luxury to achieve.

In her own words, the grandma replied, "It is a place of learning how to navigate around the world."

"Really," Luna asked fondly.

"Yes, for sure."

After those words, Luna strived to go to school every day honouring her grandma.

Unfortunately for the grandma she passed away when Luna was seven, and as time went on the memory of her grandma grew dull. She remembered bits and pieces of her time with her. When she grew older, the life of a teenager changed her. For what it was worth she changed drastically. The only thing she focused on was graduating at the top of her class.

At the age of 22, Luna graduated college. The things that she used to be about on an adventure around the world ceased to exist. She had other ideas in mind.

Then covid 19 hit. The country went into quarantine, and her dreams of ever finding a fitting job were flushed down the drain. The most she could suffice was a journalist, interviewing and reporting on a local news broadcasting station. That wasn't her dream. But during the quarantine it was best she could do with; a dream other than make-believe.

When she joined it wasn't as if she was alone on her own, as she made a friend on the journey through. Her name is Alice and she was in the same situation as her. They met coincidentally at a certain point, having come from the same background, they joined forces, became friends and worked together while they fought the quarantine period.

A year later the quarantine ceased. People were back on their toes and ready to get back to work. The same with Luna and Alice. They had an important part to play when their boss told them to be prepared as they were going to a reporting session. Maybe this time they can show their superiors what they are made of.

Too excited for what lay ahead, the expectation they had in their head wasn't something they quite pictured. Just because they thought that this was their moment to shine, it didn't mean they had to throw everything out the door.

"Tell me why we're doing this again," Luna asked Alice.

"Like they said, it is a simple report. We are to report on the shelters." Luna replied as she was setting the camera at the back of the van.

Luna thought that they were going to meet with the president or something, a tech billionaire discussion about space stuff or even, I don't know, the cure for cancer.

"Alright, we should be ready," Alica said.

One thing Luna hated most was being told she wasn't worth it.