everleigh bacharov | d1 | done

eve

I'm more than a career.

It feels like that's all everyone is these days. You're a career, with all the mystical prestige that accompanies throwing your life away, or you're not. There are the kids who spend their time stabbing rubber humans to go on to teach others on how to stab rubber humans, then there are those who don't. There are the masses that bare their teeth for a chance to kill, then there are people who are smart.

The division is seen everywhere.

At schoolyards children are taught from a young age to stay with the people they train with, the people they will spend their time with. Let the people who choose to live a life not defined by violence stand in the shadows. Let the vicious, heartless, dangerous, careers stand in the spotlight.

At first, I was confused. But now, I understand and respect the tactical divisions sliced into the core of our society. Our leaders keep us complacent by dividing us amongst ourselves, creating inner, invisible conflict. The careers are the pinnacle of district one's greatness, to show our district's fighting spirit on the side of the capitol. It's not just to divide us by district, to group us together with districts two and four to prevent any chance of inter-district agreement on a rebellion. It's also to stop those who are truly intelligent out of the way.

My parents saw how quickly I picked up on certain skills in life, and they wanted me to be in the spotlight. They dreamt, like all other parents, that I would be at the height of society as a career, or, if I was lucky, a victor. But I didn't find a life of wildly throwing knives at a red circle as intellectually challenging.

So I let my natural personality set in. I was a loner at heart. Shy and quiet. I was meant to be an observer of the world, not a participant. At first, it hurt to be alone. I was cast from the spotlight by sneering friends once I decided to stop my training for games that'll never happen.

I quickly realized my time alone was more of a blessing than a curse. Taking a step back from the limelight let me see the stage, the actors, the play. Then, I took the time to think things through and I understood what this was all about.

This economic system clearly works for the powerful and power-hungry. It lets those at the top devour those at the bottom. A constant fear and division prevents people from banding together, so they are forced back to work to keep the gluttons content.

There is a constant demand for food, electricity, jewelry, and more luxuries in the capitol. They need a method of cheap supply. Because they need their cheap supply, there is a demand for fear, and the white suited puppets provide the supply. Because of the might they exerted years ago, they had the power to create their twisted monopsonistic markets. It is all held in place by their complicated web of deceit. Making others appear better to keep others shrouded in fear. They make people feel weak because their torments fall on unheeding eyes.

I've seen it in action. I took the time to understand. While I became a recluse from regular social interaction, I became accustomed to the workings of our government. I spent the time to become an intern in the mayor's office. I had thought this world was cruel enough before I came to the realization of what an internship was. Although my parents had been disappointed that I was no longer stabbing pieces of rubber with a toy sword, they were more than happy to set me on a different career path with a few whispers to the mayors office.

I wonder what my parents did to get their money, their influence.

Everything in power here comes from a rotten core.

The way the treated me didn't show anything positive. I was like a designer hand bag to them. They would tell people I was their little angel, letting my blonde hair grow and my piercing blue eyes reflect the light like the glistening jewels that line the streets of my district. In private, they always told me look my best and make sure they look good too.

It was why they were so upset when I told them I left the career center and weren't planning on going back. It was one of my only decisions I had pressed onto them. To step out of the limelight.

But it's ok, by that point I had become numb to their chirping. I had spent my time trying to conform to their standards. Warping my body through forced diets to fit their needs. This wasn't my body anymore. It was never my body. They made sure that I knew that from the second I was born.

But there is where I stand now. Quietly observing as deals are brokered by calls by the mayor to the capitol, as peacekeepers orders are confirmed to stomp out any traces of insurgence. It's just economics, just politics.

The devilish deals are brokered out loud while meanings are unspoken. They aren't needed to be said. The rich want to stay rich. They have the means to do so. At times, I feel twinges of sympathy for those harmed from my position of prosperity and indulgence. But I respect the game that is played, even if it is with human lives. I sit back and observe, watching as strings are pulled and divisions are created to ensure that the delicate system doesn't collapse.

We truly have been divided and conquered. By district, by status, by whether or not we like to go trigger happy with knives on pieces of rubber.

Even if I wanted to do something, there's nothing I could do anyways. So I will continue to just sit back and observe, letting the political deviances take their toll.