𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄

01 | awakening

ALORA

FOR centuries people have been trying to save the earth, But more have been trying to destroy it. People take what they want and do whatever they please, lacking the concept of the consequences. I've learnt my lesson when I nearly killed the earth with my bare hands, my friends on my side helping me.

I didn't mean to, I swear.

I was only sixteen, had my whole life ahead of me. Friends that were loyal, school I was doing as well as I could in. And a family that would die for me – as much as we would argue. Well, that was before my mother disappeared leaving me as the only girl in the house.

Before she vanished, she tucked me into bed singing that lullaby she always would and said, "The one thing people cannot take away from you, is your voice. One day it will make the biggest difference."

Then, she was gone.

But her words still remained in the crevices of my mind, ricocheting off the walls and coming back louder and harder each time someone tried to shut me down, or tell me what I can or can't say.

I've never had the ability to keep my mouth shut.

Especially when I needed to. Growing up in a loud, suffocating household full of men I learnt quickly my opinions didn't really matter, like arguing with a brick wall. Both pointless and disappointing. I always just end up wasting my breath.

I lived in a household where you can only have one opinion - the men's - and if I didn't it was said to be the wrong one.

Most of the time my voice got me into trouble, and I wasn't a bad kid rather an opinionated one. I had morals and knew exactly what was wrong and what wasn't.

What wasn't right was my birthday, the one I shared with my twin brother. It started off like any other February day in England, cold and dim.

My bed enveloped me, a familiar sensation of warmth as I cushioned myself further into the duvet, not wanting to get on with what the day had planned. The cool air seethed through my open window, sending shivers of ice down my arm. Nonetheless, I reluctantly swung my legs over the bed, stretching as I got up.

Doing my usual routine; brushing my teeth, smoothing down my school uniform, the black skirt reached just above my knee and the white polo shirt was tucked in neatly. I've always hated the school morning, everything felt so repetitive like I was going to be stuck In a time loop forever. Still, I tried to brush any negative thoughts that leeched their way into my mind, like poison each one as worse as the last. Looking at life in a positive way is the only thing that really kept me sane.

"Happy birthday!" My twin brother, Mason pulled me out of my thoughts and ripped my gaze away from my mirror. He was still in his pyjamas, lacking the urgency everyone should have when it's a school morning.

"Happy birthday to you too." I grinned, pulling him into a hug and squeezed my eyes shut trying to disguise the tears that began forming.

Birthdays have always been hard since my mother disappeared, usually I'd come downstairs to her offering her warm embrace, soft and gentle like a blanket on a breezy day. Now, things were different. She wasn't here and I had to spend my birthday with overbearing men.

"Are you walking to school with Isabelle today, or are you going to wait for me?" He teased, already knowing my answer would be to walk with Isabelle and with that, he left my room to get ready.