I wipe the sweat from my brow as the sun relentlessly beats down on me... can I just say working outside in the blistering sun absolutely sucks. Yes, it's a great source of vitamin D but hello sunglass tan lines! If I wanted my face to resemble a raccoon, I'd go and crawl through the dumpsters instead.
Working outside does have its advantages though, that sweet air, the smell of the fresh flowers, the musical sound of the breeze through the trees, and the feeling of freedom. I say the feeling of freedom, but this is one thing that I am not. Cue sad face.
All of my life I have been conditioned to do one thing, and that is to work hard in the fields. Day in, day out you'll find me here, working from sunrise to sunset, completely covered in dirt and dust, harvesting food. I often daydream of running away to beautiful and exotic places that I have read about, itching for that adventure but I can never bring myself to venture out, an invisible force tying me to this place, this farm in particular. I'll forever daydream, though.
Right now my shift has finished, and the group of us clock off, torches in hand, and head back towards the grand farmhouse along the familiar worn path. Once back in my room, I pop in my headphones and zone out to the voice of Beyoncé while the rest of the workers tumble in.
Let me tell you, you'd think working in a group purely made up of females would be fun, right? Wrong! This isn't a house full of sweet sorority sisters all sitting around braiding each other's hair and dancing around to music like The Pink Ladies from Grease. These girls are catty, competitive and will not hesitate to cut you down. This is why I keep to myself. I can't deal with girls like that, so fake, and feel like the world owes them a favor.
So how do I pass the time? I read. I switch off from my mundane, repetitive life and get swept away into a whole new world every night. From faeries traveling through the mist in search of a different life, to sweet romances that make you fall instantly in love. And the dangerous sexy stories, can't forget to mention those either, hey don't judge me, it gets lonely out here... what can I say?
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I finish reading a chapter that has my mind reeling with what's coming next. Why do I always start these types of books right before I go to sleep!?! Gahh! I kick off the covers and head out of the shared bedroom, silently flipping off all the pretentious sleeping bitches on my way out. I need to go outside to clear my head. Next time I'll read a cute story before I fall asleep instead of a psychological thriller. Pfft who am I kidding... they suck me in every time and I love them.
I bypass the front door opting to head through the kitchen on the way to the back porch, grabbing a snack swinging my hips, humming Sir Mix-a-Lot's Baby Got Back, totally random I know, but once it gets stuck in your head, there is no getting rid of it. You know the intro, don't deny it and if you don't, get on it!
Stepping outside onto the dark porch, complaining to myself how gross the sticky night air is, I quickly become aware that I am not alone. This isn't one of those scenarios where you see a flicker of light from a cigarette ember in the dark corner kind of thing.
I had overheard the girls in our shared room speak of her as if she was an enigma. No one had spoken to her or had seen her up close, except at the celebration festival. We never saw her in our part of the house, opting to separate herself from us workers, living in a different wing, sharing her nights flirting, and being adored by the only men at the farm.
But tonight, she stood before me wrapped in a simple black robe, her honey-colored hair tied in a loose bun, makeup-free, staring out into the distance... a natural beauty... our leader.
With her arms hugging herself, she glanced over at me with a small smile and I'm quickly reminded how awkward I am in social situations. I never know what to say... a nice night to stand outside and listen to the crickets? Which would totally be a lie, mind you, because it was hotter than the devil's armpits tonight.
