Marked VIII: Love and Duty

Your parents began to put plans into place. The first was to contact the Order. After years of defiance, your mother believed you deserved better. You needed a guide, to learn what she had refused. They asked that you be assigned a slot for the sisterhood. Your mother could not wait for an answer. When you were ten as you know, she left. Marked Vll

“I need to get out of here. I need a drink.”

“Erronne, you don't drink and you can't medicate this away.”

“Shut up!”

Phantom's left eyebrow rises but she says nothing. Damn her. Why is this happening. Haven't I suffered enough? Why is my world falling apart all over again? Frack the Order, frack Phantom and my mother, Tic Toc, all of them!

“Erronne.”

“What?” I'm really sick of this derelict. For all I know she's some wacked out Juju addict. I've been spinning my wheels with a loon in the middle of nowhere.

“Erronne.”

“Argggg! What already?”

“I apologize if this too much for you, but you're already seventeen. Next year, by provincial law, you are free to leave the Order if you choose. Sitaa asked me to intervene before it is too late.”

I wasn't sure if her tone was sincere or if she were simply trying to get this over and be on her way. “Fine, what then?”

“Let's talk about what happened just before your Dao.”

“Nothing happened. I suffered the stupid thing and that was that.”

“No, that's not all. It was your fourteenth sun season. You were laying in the yard, belly down reading a tablet. You were wearing shorts. Your father brought lunch out for the two of you, and when he approached you he startled you by dropping the tray. You jumped up to help him and asked him if he were okay. You were alarmed. You had become very protective of your father after your mother left. He said it was nothing. You helped him clean up the mess and make a new meal. You ate in silence. You could tell he didn't want to talk and you let him be.

Erronne that was the only time your father lied to you. When he walked up behind you, he saw your marking. That is why he dropped the tray. Shortly after your Dao, you left for the Order. You agreed because you love your father. You didn't want to hurt him like your mother did.

Your father said a prayer to the Goddess and then made preparations for himself. During your initiation period, your father took a trip. He went to your mother."

Every week, Thom lists 3 words. This week: medicate, apologize, derelict. Join us. Find previous installments here.

This week's prompt: falling. Join us.