Your fairytale is our reality - chapter 4

Instructions

Chapter 4 (warning: high emotions) As I push open the large doors of the scribes temple, a smell of parchment, ink and knowledge hits me. All children older than fourteen have a chance to take on an apprenticeship, and me and Avery chose the path of wisdom, obedience, and writing. So. Much. Writing.The great hall is a bustle of other young scribes, all shouting over each other in the interweaving tangle of voices. As usual, I plug my ears and scan the room for Avery. I left so quickly yesterday, I want to say sorry. I quickly spot them in the corner, wearing the purple, flamboyant scribes uniform and a worried expression. I rush over. They acknowledge my presence with a silent nod, meek from such an eager, loud person. I can sense something’s wrong, so I speak. “I’m… I’m sorry I ran away yesterday.” Their hand finds mine. “It’s okay.” They whisper, just audible. “You were overwhelmed.” They smile slightly, but their eyes don’t match. I want to say it’s so much more than being overwhelmed, it’s so much more than just a feeling, but as usual, Avery get there first. “I need to speak to you.” Their eyes scan the room, full of people. “Privately?” I nod a quick consent, and before I know it, they’ve pulled me into an empty room.they turn to me, agitated. “I had a dream last night.” I shrug. Not that big of a deal. “No. It was… real.” “Real? Nah. You’re fine. Aren’t you?” Avery shrugs. “Listen, it was… weird. I was… weird.” “You already are.” I smile. Ish. “No, I know, but, I had… purple skin.” “Purple skin??? You’ve got to be kidding me…” “And I was in this… camp. With other people… like me. There was this woman,” they add. “She had… hair.” I snort. “Of couuuuurse.” “Beautiful golden hair” avery’s eyes have a dreamy look about them. “And red eyes” “Els, I think she was my mum.” An awkward silence fills the room. I burst into laughter. “Ave, you’re off you rocker! C’mon,” I grab their arm “let’s go.” “No.” They pull away. “You don’t understand.” This is weird. They’ve never been like this before. “Ave, I understand you had a nightmare. Come on, once our shifts over, we can go to the cafe.” This is more than I normally say in a day, let alone the few minutes I’ve been trapped in here. They rise, suddenly enraged. “You don’t understand! These were my people, they loved me!” I try to smile. “Avery, I love you. Your parents love you.” Avery grimaces. “My parents? No. They’re not even my real parents! Why don’t you get it!” “Avery,” I back away, understanding I’ve crossed a line. “I’m trying.” “You’re not! You never do! You never understand, never try to help! I’m done here.” Avery moves to the door, but looks back, their one eye full of hurt. We lock eyes for a second, so much passing between us, before they pull away, slamming the door behind them. I slam my hands over my ears and wish for everything to stop.