Imperfect Love

Part 1

I was just walking around my village area and listening to the peaceful sounds of the ocean. It is pretty nice living near the oceanside as you there is a nice, cool breeze that covers the entire village. You know what's creepy though? There's always this fog that covers the village. Regardless, most people love to live here. My village is absolutely breathtaking if you genuinely look at it. We are also surrounded by mountains and various rivers.

It seems like everyone has a job or place in this village. Everyone, but me that is. I am nearing the end of my school year so I have a lot of studying to catch up on. Right now I am sitting on one of the higher rocks near the ocean, reading trying to read my science book. My parents have high expectations of me as they have two daughters. You see, the older generations of my family are quite old-fashioned. They wanted grandsons, but of course, here I am along with my sister. This is why I have to work really hard to earn my place.

I sigh, looking out at the ocean. My village is nearly invisible in today's modern world, surrounded by the sea, mountains, and rivers. We aren't really "digitally connected" to the outside world. I know what a phone and the basic apps and stuff, but I don't have any of it. We are more of a "connect with nature" type of people. I don't really care as I haven't had any experience with the modern technology so I can't exactly miss it.

Back again to the topic of what the people in my village do. As we don't have modern technology, things such as "air conditioner" or "television" don't really exist. We heat up our food through fires so we need wood for that. We need wood for houses. We need people to cook. We need someone to go hunt animals for us. As you can see, the list is really long. There are so many things to do so every person in the village has at least one thing to do. Me, though, my parents take on twice the amount of work for me and sister so we can get the proper education.

I try to study my hardest in order to compensate for the parent's hard work, but it is very hard. The people my age are actually very smart so it is hard to compare up at them. I feel like this "matching up to everyone" is a worldwide problem. I take solace in the fact that in some modern, tech city, there is probably someone going through the same educational stresses that I have to go through. I try to focus on the elements in the periodic table as I look around me and try to identify what everything is made of. This is the best way that I learn - comparing my studies to the outside world.

I look up at the sky and notice that it is getting dark. Mother is probably going to call me and my sister for dinner soon. I stand up easily as I am wearing "men's" pants despite the protests of the other women in the village. What can I say? Is it wrong to be comfortable? I would take comfort over looks any day.

As I am walking home, I continue to read. Hydrogen, helium, lit- "Oof!" I shout as I crash into someone.

"I am so sor-Tyer!" (A/N: Pronounced "tire") Tyer is the one person who understands my daily struggles and why don't work. I guess you can call him my friend. He is possibly the one person shun me for not contributing to the village's workload. We have been supposed "friends" ever since my parents announced to the village that my sister and I going to focus on studies and they take our work loads. I am still on the ground, but once Tyer sees it's me, he jumps up to help me.

"Kaaya! Are you alright?" He asks me genuinely concerned. I nod my head yes and I hear my mother shout out my name once more. I nod once as a farewell and start to walk away. What I don't see is Tyer's eyes lingering after my form.

"Mother, I am home." I say, walking into the tiny wooden cottage I suppose you can call home. I look around and I don't see her inside our 1-room home. I look toward the farming grounds and see her planting new crops and vegetables for the upcoming harvest. She works so hard all the time, I can't help, but feel guilty for not helping her. But, any time I ask to help any of my parents, they always tell me to focus on my studies and move far away to live a good life. I suppose I have mixed feelings about this decision though. 

I look out to the ocean through the one window in our house and continue to memorize the periodic table, getting lost in the protons, neutrons, and slight chill around me.