EDEN [ divergent ]

i

Days were always warm and slow in Amity. People were sickeningly sweet to one another, always laughing and or smiling, never a dull moment. I lean my head back, hair falling from my shoulders as I close my eyes and take in the rays of sun, in my arms a basket of fruit that were just as colorful as the simple dress given to me.

Soon, I thought to myself. Testing was in just a couple of minutes. The test that decided the life those of a certain age to lead. To be given their first leap into reality and out from the cozy nest they've been in for 18 years. Or more, depending on how adamant you were on staying.

I look straight, my gaze landing on my laughing parents who playfully nudged against each other. I was one of those people. I wasn't ready to leave the safety nest a year ago, and I'm still not. Despite the longing to leave this happy-go-lucky place I've called home for my whole life, I didn't want to leave my parents.

My parents.

"Korra!" Mother called, making me smile a bit. Korra had been my "second name" as my parents call it. Mother claimed that the two of them couldn't decide on the name Korra or Eudora, so just settled on just giving me both. My mother was Amity born and always willing to lend a helping hand. She has a garden in the cabin we were given, and was well kept. She met my father, a born Erudite, during their testing day. She claimed it to be "love at first sight" but father said it was her determination that wouldn't get her to shake from his "personal space".

Sooner or later, my dad joined Amity to start a new life with mom.

"Are you ready for today?" I take a deep breath in, coming back to the present as the woman before me pulled me from my thoughts. "About as ready as I'll ever be. Just a test."

"That's right," My father suddenly chimed in, placing a gentle hand to my cheek. "Not like it will be too hard. Just do the right choices obviously given for Amity and you'll be back home in no time." I felt my smile falter a bit.

Amity. Home. But was it really home? A place you were born and raised isn't really what home is. Home is where you felt most free. Was home a real thing? All we knew to be "home" were these factions that we didn't even get to choose unless we decide to go against our silent code of honor. I wanted to find my home. Somewhere my soul felt free and not chained to stereotypes of the designed factions.

I find myself nodding briefly. "Back in no time. Right." I sighed out the last bit of the sentence, going to put my basket of fruit in the large dome in our Amity fields before going to our house and changing into a more cleaner dress.

•••

Icy grey eyes stare back at me through the reflection, under them freckles that scattered like stars in a sky. Dark brown hair falling over my shoulder that was covered with peach cloth, connected to the same colored dress that reached just above my knees. It was a soft pink, a coral trimming at the hem of it to give it an innocent design. Hopefully this would be the only time I had to wear a dress like this. Not that I disliked it, but wearing a dress for 19 years got a bit old especially if they were all close to the same color. Change was good.

"Change is good." I repeat my thoughts, looking at my reflection once more. I decide to pull my hair up into a high ponytail, the small dip in the front of my dress allowing to show off my now exposed collarbones. "Change is good." I echo once more. It was more of a reassurance to myself. A small shaky breath escaped, making my way to the testing area.

•••

The nerves were really starting to kick in now. Especially since my parents weren't here. My heart pounded, blood coursing through my veins as I stayed close to my faction line and trying not to get lost in the large crowd of people. Crowds. Noise. Strangers. New faces. There was a feeling deep in my stomach, and I held it as sort of a comforting action to cope with the anxiety bubbling up. Breathe. Just breathe.