I return home quickly, wanting to get there before morning.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9Wm50KRdG
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. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJkbDN2ZoK
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. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE0Q1nbFeL
I look down and think, this is how we should be. This is what Hawthorne would have wanted.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNEIytmXon
Tiptoeing into my house, I find my mom, dad, and two younger siblings sleeping soundly, unaware, as if nothing had happened.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRHKk8yFEz
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.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojYotd2svn
I’ll tell them tomorrow.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o2VXt5vwW
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. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dZyxqfRyw
As I talk, I recall the events of this morning and how I told my parents. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC11wOrLLW
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.”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrOnSIN98X
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. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nIK9wH7Rj
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.”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhN0kzHhVV
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.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJdo3sd9f4
I thought, no pressure or anything. You just have to speak to, basically, the whole world. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvlLq7zQMl
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.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYVebxDicS
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.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO96nyhGcF1
As I near the end of my speech, I conclude by saying, “Well…we’re going to need a leader. We will have a -”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQt8KXf0db
“Hey! What about you, girl? Who else agrees with me that the girl can lead?” 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrUdkSQ12c
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.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfpprPHlC6
They want me. It is me that they wanted to inspire and organize them. They want me as their leader.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn42HzcI5o
I nod.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLm84mGfa2
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.”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwmrl6fYui
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….”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqju61ZI3W
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.”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADMhq9xD26
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!”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANvqQqruLS
My younger sister points to my hand. “What’s that?”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwT5tCeFt9
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.”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXKjRIuUaN
My younger brother asks, “From where? Where did you get it?”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa8upSk0Eu
“It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll tell it later, but not now.”384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1FKtvDGEr
384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoFlChQ9xX
