The Fight for Our Future

Hidden Behind Closed Eyes

August 10th, 2018

Dear Diary, wait no... that sounds to girly. Sorry scratch that.

Dear Journal,

       Today, like any other day, was the most boring day of my life. I swear this time I mean it. Nothing happened today. Just like every other day. Once again I will leave this journal with a boring day to day on my daily life. Fantastic. God this sucks. Per usual, Takumi made fun of me and my so quote unquote "foolish dreams for adventure." Apparently I'm crazy for wanting something more than this mundane life I've been forced to live. Then when I got home my parents spent over an hour lecturing me one where I was going with my life. Like hell. You think I know? Finally I was able to get to my room. I spent my afternoon watching anime, chatting with friends, role playing, eating junk food and basically having absolutely no life. Now isn't that the life? Heh. I guess that's a bit ironic, huh? Honestly I don't wish for a hot vampire boyfriend or my Hogwarts acceptance letter. All I want is a little adventure. Is that too much to ask for? Anyway I hear mom coming and I don't want her to know I wrote this so gotta go.

-Yuuki Sakamoto

August 11th, 2018

     It was a hot summer morning as the sun was beating down on my pale skin, I smelled like a mix of sunblock, coconut shampoo and sweat. I was wearing my favorite beat up black and white Chuck Taylor high tops with a pair of jean shorts and a white t-shirt that read "If you don't get my Harry Potter jokes there is something Siriusly Ron with you." Scanning down my street I could see the heatwaves coming off the asphalt. "Jeesh, it's hot today" I heard a male voice call out from behind me as I quickly whipped my head around to see who it was. "Ah! Woah I think that heat just disappeared when the queen of ice looked me in the eyes!" he continued teasing. "Maybe a prince has to kiss her to lift the spell of a frozen heart." A tall, tan boy with messy black hair stood in front of me with a grin that made me simply want to punch him. Takumi Hikaru. Takumi was possibly the most annoying, arrogant, stupid boy I had ever known. He was my mom's best friend's son, as well as my childhood friend, if you could call that friendship. From a young age I had always hated Takumi with all my heart. We were complete opposites. Takumi was popular, I was well...me. Takumi was good looking, I was once again...me. I was never going to fit in with someone like him. Me with my messy brown hair, stupid brown eyes and pale skin. I wasn't stick skinny but I wasn't fat either. I was just normal. As normal as it got, painfully normal and boring.

"Oh shut up Takumi," I complained as I turn to face him, "If you don't leave me alone maybe I'll use those ice powers of mine and freeze you then chop you up into little pieces and sell you in the form of Popsicles for the kids around town. I'm sure they'd love that." I grin as I turn and continue to walk.

"Aw don't be so harsh old pal," he says in a condescending tone as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and forced me to turn around, "Just admit that you've always loved me and I'll be the prince to break that spell."

"Takumi. I'd rather kiss a toad than you. Oh and I'm not talking about a toad that will turn out to be a prince. I'm talking a real, slimy, gross toad." I say as I pick his arm off of me by his pointer finger and quickly step on his foot as I walk out of his reach. "But you can try me some other time." I say with a smirk, as I pretend to wink at him, before running inside my house. "Mom! I'm home!" I yelled out as I kicked off my converse and ran up the stairs, "Mom? You there? Dad?" Once again, no response. "Mom, Dad come on. This isn't funny...where are you guys? Oh! I get it! This is some TV show prank, right? Now you're all gunna jump out and scare me, right?" I asked as I nervously laughed."Joke's on me! Heh...come on out." Once again there was no response. I panic as I run from room to room searching for my family but every trace of their existence was gone. "What the hell is going on?" I mutter under my breath as I run to their desk and open drawers and saw a little etching in the wood. It was small and hard to read but I could see the words "Downstairs". I pushed the drawer back in and turned running down the stairs as quick as I possibly could. My mind went blank as I stumbled past the kitchen and swung open the basement door. I kept almost tripping over my feet as I pulled the string to the lightbulb, the light flickering on. In the rickety wooden floor I saw a small rug. I sprinted over as I fell to the ground pushing the rug to the side. Underneath it a small section in the wood that could be taken out. I wiggled it a few times before pulling it out and finding an old typewriter. I reached it and placed it on the ground, grabning the paper in my hand and ripping it out causing ink to smear down the page where nothing had been written. I grab the papers and quickly throw myself onto a nearby chair and begin reading. The papers read:

Yuuki. It's mom and dad. We have something really really important to tell you and you can not, absolutely can not, tell anyone else about this. Darling, you are a very special girl. Right now the reality you believe to be real, is little more than a farce meant to trick you. You need to look farther and harder to see the truth. Yuuki, you're special. In the back of your neck there should be a small scar. Where that scar is you have a microchip. This chip prevents you from seeing the world as it is. You need to get that out ASAP so you will understand. You've always dreamed of adventure, here's your chance. You can change the world. Yuuki, the world needs you. Learn the truth of the world and use that power to save it from itself. No one can know you know this information. If you're reading this your father and I are probably dead. Save yourself darling. Burn this information and run. Get out of here as quickly as you can before taking out that chip. Yuuki. We love you and...
The rest of the words had been smudged with ink and were impossible to read. A tear rolls down my cheek as I look down at the words. "No...mom and dad can't be dead. I'm not ready to be alone. Who's going to lecture me on my future? T-this isn't my future...I'm supposed to live this boring life here and get a job and grow up." I mutter in denial. My head was pounding and my heart was racing. I crumple the paper in my fist and throw it and run upstairs to my room quickly. I stumbled up the stairs in a blur of emotions. I stumbled on the wooden stairs and felt a shot of pain in my shin as I fell down. Grabbing the railing I stood up seeing a large gash up my shin. Ignoring it I ran upstairs again, bursting through the door to my room I fall to my knees crying. My world was falling apart. I stand up weakly and walk over to my night table. All of the pictures of my parents were gone except the small locket I always kept hidden in the mattress. "It's like they tried to erase their existence from the world. You can't make my forget them!" I yell out as if someone could hear me. I kneel down and stick my hand in the old mattress of my bed as I yank stuffing out as I search for the necklace. "Come on! It's gotta be here!" I say through gritted teeth as I feel the pearls in my hand. "GOT IT!" I pull it out and open my fist to see small pearl necklace in my palm. "Thank god it's still here," I say with a relieved sigh as I click open the small heart pendant and see the small pictures of my mom and dad on their wedding day. A tear drips down my cheek and lands on my hand. "Mom, Dad, I'll never forget you. I swear." I whisper as I shut the locket and hold it in my closed hand close to my heart lightly shutting my eyes. Quickly putting the necklace on I would turn it around, it falling at my collarbone as I take one deep breath. "Be strong Yuuki. I have to do this. For mom and dad." I say to myself as I open my eyes and hastily wipe away my tears before walking to my parents room grabbing the crumpled up paper and try to smooth it out. I fold it neatly ignoring the wrinkles in it before shoving it in my pants pocket. I walk back to my room and shove a few pairs of clothes and things in a backpack and pull my messy brown hair into a pony tail before tying a jacket around my waist. I stand up and look in the mirror and see my reflection. A 16 year old girl with a messy ponytail, geeky clothes, puffy eyes and pale skin stares back at me. I take a step closer and put my hand on the mirror. "I have to leave this world behind. Time to be strong Yuuki. You can do this." I say to myself before turning quickly as I walk out the door of my old bedroom. I quickly pull on my hightops and tie them quickly before walking out the house I had always lived in. "I guess this is goodbye." I say as I looking at house my hand feeling the paper in my pocket. My body felt as if it were wavering on the brink of falling apart. I inhale the hot air and then exhale feeling my body release some tension. I turn away from the house without looking back as I walk away down the street I always considered home. "You always wished for adventure. When did that change? Is this not what you wanted? No time to think. I can do this." I say to myself as I continue to walk down the street.