L.I.E. (Learn, Improve, Educate)

Learn, Improve, Educate

"What I didn't know is that by understanding this and by understanding my feelings and so... that it would hurt so damn much..." she clench her fists, "In the end, being a human is shit." She finished sighing.

"I can't blame you for thinking like this, I agree with you mostly." Lael admitted, looking away from the sky to her. "But being a human also brings you the possibility of feeling good things too."

"What exactly?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. Lael smiled and looked away again.

"It brought you happiness when we were altogether, fighting for our aim."

"Yeah, and that ended up goddamn well." She muttered, folding her arms upon her chest.

"But that's life, you know? That's what being human is also about. And when you have many negative feelings and experiences most of the time, easier it is to find joy in little things." Lael looked at her. "What is your aim, Edath? What would be your biggest happiness?"

"You know that. It's to be able to change this goddamn island." She looked at him hesitantly, confused by his question.

"Why? Why would it bring you happiness?" Lael insisted.

"Because everybody would enjoy way more like that, and they'd actually live instead of just surviving. That would bring me happiness, you know, living a normal life." Edath shrugged.

"But you said it yourself that you wouldn't live in my country because even though it's the kind of life you'd wanted to live, you wouldn't simple adjust to our ways. So what would be different in this case?" He faced her, still speaking softly. She looked at him and opened her mouth and closed it, before speaking.

"I-I mean, it's still different." She sighed. "Alright you got me. I know that's my aim, I just know it. Now when you put it in that way... it seems like my aim is just stupid because I'm fighting for something I don't know I'll be able to retain happiness from. But I want to think I will. Otherwise, everything I've done so far, every life that got sacrificed would be in vain!" She shook her head, rejecting that possibility.

"I get it. But have you thought that probably that sounds a little bit..." Lael's voice faded away, unsure if he should say it. Edath chuckled and looked at him.

"Selfish? Yeah it does. Simon and Nale said it too, but mostly because I'd be dictating the rules if I'd be alive in case that ever came to happen." Lael chuckled too. "But in the end, many people here also share this dream. You can't fight for something like this alone, I'm not stupid. That's why you and the rest are here."

Well, I was basically kidnapped back then, so it's not like I had any choice anyway. He chuckled, thinking to himself before speaking again

"Don't think I am saying these things because I don't agree with you." Lael started, patting her head, making her frown. "It's just that changing societies are something very difficult."

"That's why we get rid of the ones who are opposing to the change." She shrugged it off. Lael sighed.

"That's what politicians and the government does back in my place. That's why I'm here."

Edath looked at him hesitantly, thinking about what he said. She then kicked a bit of sand and snorted. Simon's words were popping out Edath's head again and again.

"I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what's right anymore. I don't fucking know anything anymore." Her voice increased with her frustration, as she kicked off more sand and water. Lael hugged her from behind and tried to calm her down.