Vial Happiness

Chapter One - Empathy

            I awoke from a splendid dream, to the birds chirping in the graceful morning sky. I would start a new journey today. After all, it was first day of my final class before graduation. I was finally considered mature enough to learn about the extinct human emotions, something I have eagerly awaited to be educated about.

            I got out of my bed and walked over to the calendar. The date read September 1st, and I was told to refill my empathy. I made my way to the bathroom, staring at my reflection, I saw my permanent smile, with dimples on each cheek, and my mother always adored them. My dark hair was standing up in random directions from the long sleep. I placed my hand on the bottom of the mirror and opened it, revealing our cabinet of emotions. There, I browsed past vials of peace, joy, and love. A vial with a green fluid inside read “EMPATHY: 30 ml. Allows the user to understand the feelings of others - lasts one week.”

            I twisted the lid off and downed the liquid. As usual, it tasted bitter. My father says we must experience something unpleasant to appreciate what is pleasant. And sure enough, I started to go through the sensation. I felt a bit lighter, my smile became more prominent, and the emotion had kicked in.

            The hot water engulfed my body once I stepped into the shower. I lathered myself with the new shampoo mother got me. It smelled of exotic spices and the unknown, and for some reason I enjoyed it very much.

            I began to wonder what I would learn about today. We have all been told since an early age that education is one of the most important parts of living. I had already been told how happiness works, but the words “sadness” and “hatred” were like a foreign language to me.

           Worried that I had spent too much time bathing, I shut the hot water off and dried myself. After I finished dressing, I went to the kitchen for breakfast. Mother and Father were already up as usual, drinking their coffee.

      "Good morning!” Mother exclaimed. Her smile had always been the most beautiful out of anyone else.

          “Good morning Mother.” I replied.

         “Excited for school?” Father chipped in.

       “Of course, I have waited a long for this class.” I sat down at the table and poured myself a bowl of Mr. Smile cereal along with a glass of milk.

         “It is a very interesting class,” Mother said. “Just remember, do not talk to any Heartless while you are there. They already know what those emotions feel like and want the rest of us to feel them too.”

“Yes Mother” That was the only response to Mother’s advice. Heartless are those who do not use the vials of emotions. Either because they cannot afford them, or dare I say it, do not want to take them. They must live a life of “sadness” and “hatred”. They do not smile, and the rest of us ignore them.

“You better get going, or you will be late.” Father said as he checked the time. I walked out our front door into the polished streets. The sun was rising, the air smelled fresh, everything was great.