Life in the perfect city

This city is meant to be the perfect place to live.
Everybody works together to reach their goals, everyone cares for people who are left behind, nobody is alone and you won't ever run out of food, even if you don't work.

A lot of stuff is being automated, so most people don't even need to work.
The technology is still not as advanced as it once was.
Computers and sending of videos has not been invented yet.
The first screens already exist, though.

It's kind of exciting. But I still don't really feel home in this city.
When I walk through the streets, everybody seems to ignore me.
Since I'm still young, they often don't even recognize me and push me away.
Ocassionally even so hard, they make me fall to the ground.
Most of the time they don't even notice it, let alone apologize for that.

I've been living in this city for my whole life.
I never lived with my parents. They must have thought, I'd be better off at a place like this.
And in my first years, life here was good enough.
I've been living with other kids and learned a lot.
And a few years ago, I even got my personal flat. It's small, but it's mine. I own a real flat.

But since I'm not required to interact with other people anymore, I normally don't. First I ocassionally still met some of the boys I knew, but now I don't anymore.
Maybe it's more of a personal problem. Maybe I should just spend time with people more often. But whenever I spent time with my friends, they just bored me.
And getting to know interestsing people is almost impossible.

So most of the time I just walk through the city, get some food, and go home again.

At least there's one person I like to spend time with.
It's Sina, a girl who helped me once.
It has been raining, and someone accidentally pushed me and made me fall onto the wet ground.
I was completely dirty, and then she came and helped me up.

Her father, a fat, old man, who later turned out to be her uncle, wasn't happy about that and wanted her to leave me alone, so she left and followed him.
But after some days I saw her again and talked to her.
I thanked her and we quickly became friends.

But when her uncle, his name is Oron, found out about it, he came up with a compromise.
He has been a sword fighter and would really appreciate to train someone in sword fighting again.
First I didn't want to, but since he's really passionate about sharing his knowledge, I accepted.
This way it also was easier to spend time with Sina, and since then Oron didn't mind anymore.

So even if life is pretty boring and sad most of the time, there are at least two persons who care about me.
One of them probably only cares for me out of obligation as a teacher though.

But I'm really happy when I'm able to spend time with Sina.
She's actually very cute.
Normally after training, I spend some time with her.

Oron is still pretty strict to her, so she's not always allowed to stay after training. But most of the time she at least watches me during the training for some time.

One day I stay in the training room with Sina and just talk to her.

Oh, I'd really like to stay with you some longer.
My uncle has really been strict lately.
But he left, so this evening will be fun.

I totally agree. Evenings without you aren't a lot of fun.

No, I mean... it's probably worse with Oron.

I know he can be strict, but I think he really has the best interests for you.

I agree. I believe he really thinks that.
But I don't really like him. He also can be pretty... violent.

Are you talking about...
Does he sometimes hurt you?

Rather regularly. I'm pretty sure he won't be nice to me tonight after what I've done yesterday.

What have you done yesterday?

I already told you too much.
Please don't tell anyone about it.

I'd really like to ask her out, but she seems like she doesn't want to talk about that.
I understand why she wants to keep it a secret. He is her only attachment figure, and she must also know, she can't trust the people in the city. So I respect her wish.

And do you think, he really cares about me?
He probably just cares for me out of obligation...

Hmm...

I don't know what to answer.

At least you have me now. I care for you because I like you.

I put my arm around her and pull her toward me.
She seems happy about it.

But I think I have to leave now.
It's getting dark already.

Yeah, you're right...
It still was nice to talk to you about that.
I hope Oron won't be too...

I give her a hug.
Then I get up, get my stuff together and leave.

On my way home I think about our relationship.
Was she really interested in me as a friend when she got to know me?
She probably just wanted Oron to have some distraction, so he wouldn't have time to punish her.
And a new pupil like me is just a good idea, he wouldn't only have less time to punish her, his mood might even be better.
He must have been a sad old man.

But her initial intentions don't matter anymore.
Now we're really becoming good friends.
Or maybe even closer.