HOPE AND DESPAIR ࿔ 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒏

ONE.

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IRENE FUJIWARA strolled on the brick pavement with light and joyful steps. in her small hand was a bag that carried groceries such as fruits and vegetables that her mother had asked her to buy. she took her time enjoying the surroundings, knowing that she had extra time.

irene fujiwara was a ten-year-old girl with uniformly brilliant short black hair that ended right past her small ears along with messy bangs that covered her small face. she had a pale complexion due to the long amount of time she spent in her house. the girl had fairly large red rubescent eyes (that she had inherited from her father) which sparkled as she stared at the sky.

the air was peaceful and refined in wall sina but at the same time, it felt restricting for the girl. irene felt as if everyday was the same. she had the same routine of waking up early, showering, cooking breakfast for her and her mother, learning how to knit and sew, and occasionally buying groceries. nevertheless, her favorite part of the day was when the moon would replace the sun and the sky would be filled with glimmering stars.

irene reached her two-story house. the walls of her house were white and the roof was painted brown. it was the same as the house next to her, and the next, and the next. she knocked on the oak door twice,

"i'm home mother,"

the door opened, revealing irene's mother, julia. she was a woman with light brown hair with white streaks that symbolizes her aging. her hair was tied in a tight and neat lower bun. her dark brown milky colored eyes flickered to irene, then to the bag of groceries in her hand.

julia stepped into the kitchen, allowing irene to enter. she slid off her beige colored flats before entering the house with her naked feet. her mother hated dirt and dust much more than anything else. the first time she saw the soles of irene's muddy flats in the house, her mother had banned her from entering with her shoes on.

"did you talk to anyone?" julia's voice was cold and stern. her brown eyes stared at irene with doubt, one of her eyebrows raised slightly. julia shook her head, her red eyes showing honesty.

"good. go wash the fruits then go to your room," with those instructions, her mother turned her heel, walking off into the living room where she sat down on the usual brown couch, hands holding onto a needle as she knitted a piece of clothing.

irene sighed quietly and emptied the bag of fruits into the sink. she turned on the faucet, allowing the cold water to run off from her small dainty fingers and onto the green apples.

there were a lot of things that her mother never allowed her to do. the most important one was to never disobey her. julia was a single and strict mother who worked as a seamstress for a living. her designs were astounding, unique, and beautiful which was naturally popular amongst the people of wall sina, especially mothers. when she was with other women, she was a completely different person. her usually stoic face was replaced with a bashful smile and kind gentle eyes that made people feel comfortable. her voice, instead of serious and icy, was soft and very feminine.