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S L A V E ~ 7

"You cannot keep wanting to play hero, Catalina!" Celeste whispered to me in a stern voice as she folded her arms, "you're here for what — two days? and you're already looking for trouble to come your way" she stated with a shake of her head.

    I sighed as I continued to dry the dishes and silverware with a brown cloth after I had finished washing them, "I cannot just sit around and watch my people go homeless"

"your people?" She emphasized with raised eyebrows,
     "My kind is what I should've said — my family, friends" I quickly corrected myself with a frown, pausing a bit to rub my temple before continuing my work.

"oh lord, you're going to raise bloody havoc before the week is over" she mumbled with an annoyed and frustrated expression placed upon her face, gesturing to the air with her arms as they slightly flailed as she spoke to me. I tilted my head to the side, my frown remaining as I wondered why Celeste was so worried about me wanting to help in anyway I can to protect our race. I know for a fact that it will indeed be risky and I could be put to death for it ... but how am I suppose to sit and watch them go homeless or watch all those innocent people be put to their death because they are not even wanted on the streets...

      When will there be a time where the color of our skin does not dictate whether or not we are treated as human beings — or whether or not we will be worth more than the ground beneath us where we stand. Is it really that much to ask for us to be treated equally? Is it too much to want to live our lives to the best of our abilities and strive for better each day?  My mother said to me when I was younger; 'the day that we will all live peacefully as one, is the day when someone as wise as Martin Luther King Jr. stands in the middle of those streets and fight with their soul to show that our skin color is just as important. Without that baby girl — segregation will be today, tomorrow, and will never be something that stays in the past' — my mood saddened at the thought as I subconsciously ceased my actions and stared at my hands ... If no one stands up for us, we will never be free from these invisible cages that are so suffocating. If I don't at least try, who's going to try for us?

"I will not create havoc. I do not wish to, nor will it happen" I simply stated, continuing my duty as the remainder of time spent working side by side lingered in silence.

~

Walking up the stairs to Princess Jasmine's room, I held the right cleaning utilities in my hand. My mind reminisced upon earlier and I couldn't help but think to myself that I may be a little over thinking things - at least, that is what my mind told me. My heart, on the other hand, said the opposite. It is not my wish to create a problem, but it is as if everyone has clearly given up on themselves — given up on trying and doing what is right. I - I lost my train of thoughts once someone bumped into me, I looked up to see prince Jaxon, a frown plastered on his face.

    "Watch where you're going will you?" he glared at me.

"I'm sorry sir" was all I could say as I looked up in his eyes. I could see the stern-ness in them at first, but then oddly his eyes softened as he looked into mine. "i-it's okay" he mumbled in a slight stutter. "y-you're a slave.." , he then trailed off rhetorically. Even so, I was about to open my mouth and answer him but he interrupted me,

"I mean, of course you are. You seem like it" he said nonchalantly. I slightly tilted my head to the side and bit down on my lower lip, "I — did not mean that. It's just that you're in a uniform and everything ..." He slightly stuttered, surprisingly looking a bit baffled by his thoughts. The first thought that came to my mind, was that he would be rude and intimidating like his father and brother, but he was quite the opposite. Jaxon was more so calm than harsh ... and it was a relief to know I was not only surrounded by ignorant and unkind people .