I return home quickly, wanting to get there before morning.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jhi1UMuBX
Even though it is far past midnight, I run all the way home, not stopping to rest. I expertly dodge overgrown sticks that protrude from the trees, sharp enough to poke my eyes out, and I quickly jump over misplaced logs and fallen trees, squeezing through boulders and avoiding wild animals that could easily overwhelm me. My arms swinging violently at my side, I try my best to control my breath and make sure that its steady, by inhaling and then exhale deeply. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnML49Gj1c
Feeling the same angst that I felt going down the mountain in fear of being caught by the Imperium, I suddenly realize we were free. We will not be held back by the government's restraints any longer. When I arrived at my home, I look down the mountain and gaze at the city, The City Square, and its luxurious houses below me. And then I smile. Even though nothing much has changed, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of security and relief. Because we are free. We are going to be happy and will not have to worry about The Imperium’s control or family members and friends going to prison. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZH3PGf0av
I look down and think, this is how we should be. This is what Hawthorne would have wanted.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZw01Lsp0D
Tiptoeing into my house, I find my mom, dad, and two younger siblings sleeping soundly, unaware, as if nothing had happened.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnLLpztE0j
I lay my head down to sleep, careful not to wake up my family. I watch them for a moment, suddenly realizing how lucky I am to have them. I smile.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4jHi70034
I’ll tell them tomorrow.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhHSe7TbHY
I am standing on the Imperium’s doorstep, looking into the sea of tens of thousands of eyes. It is nerve-wracking, but I speak and explain. I tell everything, not really thinking. Just talking and explaining as best as I can. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrjZIMo7Sm
As I talk, I recall the events of this morning and how I told my parents. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZeCXb9Fav
When I was trying t explain the best that I could to them, surprisingly, once I finished, my mom had looked at me and then clapped her hands, saying, “Well. Let’s get the town together.”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn3NxDJ49I
My dad and I stared at her as she went to the phone to make phone calls to her friends. I looked at my dad and laughed as he shook his head in disbelief. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8Gw9PK9p1
When my mom finished making the phone calls, she roused up my siblings and told all of us to get dressed in a few minutes so that we could go to the city to explain everything. She added, looking at me, “I mean, not us. We won’t, but you will.”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qn6iOH2u1
In less than ten minutes, we were out of the house and at the city gate. With the guards gone, we entered in easily. I was shocked at how many people were there to hear me speak. As far as I could see, there were people everywhere. They were packed in the city square, and since there was no more room, many were sitting on their or their friends roofs. Some kids were also climbing on the lampposts or sitting in the trees that were dispersed around the city’s square.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rQzjkgkwS
I thought, no pressure or anything. You just have to speak to, basically, the whole world. 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFtbEJ8xjA
As I stepped onto the Imperium steps and made my way to the center, I watched through the corner of my eyes as all eyes focused on me. In that moment, it was just about me and what I had to say. Nothing else.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN1k0H882t
When I realize that I’m almost done speaking, I sigh inwardly and tell myself to focus. The last part is the most important part.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVOECOry8p
As I near the end of my speech, I conclude by saying, “Well…we’re going to need a leader. We will have a -”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TORRP6KDh
“Hey! What about you, girl? Who else agrees with me that the girl can lead?” 504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKKzrPVewQ
I stand, frozen, trying to find who said that. Then, an explosion of cheers and whistles erupt below me. I am shocked and I know that I must have looked like a fool. But the message is clear.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tKd9D3yE7
They want me. It is me that they wanted to inspire and organize them. They want me as their leader.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8E4wXkx8h
I nod.504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYeBTNyGw7
I breathe deeply and exhale. With a sudden surge of confidence and adrenaline, I say, “Okay,” My eyes sweep over the crowd. “Okay. Well, we have work to do. Let’s do it.”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUngM3e35u
I look back into the staring eyes of the people that are now surrendering themselves to me. I survey the crowd, trying to find the person I trust to give me assurance and confirm that my decision is the right one. But instead of trying to find my mom or dad, I find myself trying to find someone else. My eye catches the eyes of the old man. The man who made me so lucky and who I owe an unpayable debt. I smile, and he smiles back. And in his eyes is the spark that I know started my courage.
After all the excitement, I find my family in the crowd. Sheepishly, I say, “Hi. I know you guys didn’t really tell me what you think of all this….”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvYp6M2eQJ
They are quiet. After a few seconds, I ask, “Are you guys mad? I mean, you’ll be a lot busy with all-” I wave my hand over the crowd “-this now that I’m the new leader.”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnxjEYV4cr
My mom laughs and I step back, clearly surprised. She replies, “Mad? You just saved the world!” She looked at my dad, exclaiming, “Look at that! Our daughter saved the world!”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EU4Tm5kNG
My younger sister points to my hand. “What’s that?”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVJc158mXc
I look down and smile because I realize I’m holding the gem. I guess I took it out of my pocket when I was walking toward them. “It’s a gem.”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QkFgXRzae
My younger brother asks, “From where? Where did you get it?”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEYDIGQUnu
“It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll tell it later, but not now.”504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH80h28HklM
504Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECy2PyfpOx
