1 Dreaming of the Other Side

7,662 days. That's 20 years and 362 days. This small island I'm living in serves as a prison. I can only stand on the edge of the cliff, watching the endless blue sky and ocean. There's nothing to do, I hope that just by stretching my hand, I can reach the other side, the other side that might not have existed.

"Nabi." I almost jumped off the cliff when a sweet teasing voice whispered in my air. It was Raquel, my only remaining childhood friend.

Raquel giggled.

I picked my bow and bag. I know why she's here and nothing good will come out of it.

"Dreaming of going into a foreign land again? How many times did father explain to you they're long gone?" She looked at the other side unsympathetically. She's not interested in the past. She had given up on it a long time ago.

"You miss the 'adji' again right? Father is furious! He plans on giving you 4 hours talk once you get back." Raquel teased again. She's the daughter of the village chief, and maybe the wife of the future one. Since we're the only young adults in this isolated island after the epidemic, the villagers naturally expected great things from me.

Adji is a traditional class that should be attended by unmarried young adults and children. It teaches prayers, rituals, and meditation that can unlock our god-given power, which I strongly doubt exist. I would love to call myself a rational being, and that's not new to anyone, not even to Raquel's father, Roro. After hearing my proud announcement, they threaten to boycott me as the next chief, which I absolutely agree with. Unfortunately, considering the age gaps of children and adults, I guess they don't have any other choice but to beat me back to my senses.

As we trace our way back, the scattered and submerged bricks greet our view. Metals from what the older's civilization called towers are now lying on the ground along with other indescribable junks. They should be fined 256 years ago.