One Week

Drefor Church, the biggest church in our country. They literally own our houses and everything we have, instead of a king...we have priests, the most powerful people in the church .

In one week I'll be 18 years old, for most of the people it's the beginning of their life, but for me... it's just the end of the road. Why? Because, when you turn 18 you need to join the church Drefor as a guard, once you are 25 years old you will start to train to become a priest. I hate the fact that we can't choose or change our lives, that's why I won't follow their rules.

After a long day working on the field with my Dad, we went home to have dinner. On the way home my dad asked.

"Salvor, I know there is only one week until you turn 18... are you sure you want to stay here? Your mom and I know how much you hate the fact that you need to become a guard.."

I could see the concern on his face, dad and mom always told me to follow my dreams. They even said that they could help me leave this country with my cousin Paul. He is someone who hates the church since his brother died in the war. Everyone loses someone to others' greatness.. which will never change.

"I know dad, Mom talked with me yesterday about this. I don't want to run because a lot of suffering will come to our house. I know that someday I'll be able to change the system and the church!"

"Shhh, don't talk so loud, you know that people have big mouths around here.."

After my dad said that, I thought about my brother Cleri, he was one year older than me. He is a guard now but he's being taught by a greater priest. Not because he is special or something, he told secrets from my mom to the priest, my mom was an ex follower from other church, a church where we could be free and choose our paths, sadly my mom got punished for that, they gouged out her eyes so she can live in the "Darkness of Satan", a place where you see suffering for the rest of your life.

When we got home I saw my mom on the door with a smile on her face, sometimes I think she can still see us. Sitting at the table, we held hands and prayed not for the church or its Gods, but that one day we would be free from the chains that bind us to this place.

In the middle of the dinner, my mom grabbed my hand and said.

"Salvor, I know It's getting repetitive but I want you to leave this country with Paul, both of you can enter in the south forest and pass the river, the church will never find you. You don't have to worry about me and your father."

I knew my mom was going to talk about this again, she always worried too much.

"Mom...I already decided to stay and help you and Dad the best I could. You don't have to worry that much for me, I will decide my path and change this place for the best."

"He is right honey, Salvor is a grown-up man. We need to trust him and help him...he's not like his brother."

"But Mark you know that the church is a horrible place, the poor people will work like slaves for the rest of their lives in there. Do you want our son to work as a slave?!"

"I'm not saying that. We just need to trust him. "

They kept talking for the rest of the dinner, I could see the sad and nervous face of my mom, she didn't want me to stay .. she wanted to me to live a life full of joy and freedom, I get that, but we should face our problems and not run from them, we can't act weak to the church...they will treat us like garbage and steal our goods in the name of their imaginary God. It was time for a change.

"Mom, please. Trust me, I won't disappoint you nor Dad."

My mom hugged me tightly and whisper to my ear.

"I just don't want you to follow your brother's decisions...I love you both but I want you to live better than I ever could."

"I know mom...I love you too."

My dad got up from the chair and hugged both of us and said that he was going to work hard so he could help me achieve my dream.

In my room that was next to my parents' room, I was packing some clothes and water for the night, I was going to leave home and come back before the sunrise.