What We Want

Two years ago, I met him. At first, it started as an innocent friendship but quickly bloomed into something more. Our parents found us that summer evening, together in the bed of his truck. We had driven to our special place. His hands intertwined with mine.It isnt right my mind told me over and over again."Sometimes rules have to be broken," He reassured me. I was frightened. Being together was forbidden by society. 

"We're going to be mocked!" I screamed at him during one of the many fights we had. He stayed silent until I slammed the door. That night I felt like I was going to lose. I didn't want anyone to tell me what love was. Everytime I looked at his face, I knew what love was.

A year ago, everything fell apart. I tried as hard as I could to get my fathers to let me be with him."Mackayla this is wrong!" They pleaded with me."If anyone found out.. Kala, you'll be exiled." Dad said. But that wasn't what I was afraid of, I was afraid of losing him.

Today, I stand in front of the mirror. I don't regret my decision. If people judge me by my past or even use me as an example I hope they have the decency to remember the sacrifice I made.

I take a deep breath. My future is right around the corner and I can feel my heart racing. I step slowly out of the bridal chambers. My path in front of me and there was no turning back now.
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"My name is Mackayla Pearson, I'm 16 years of age and I'm here to study for my doctorate degree," I said confidantly. My dads behind me staring down the woman in front of me. She hesitantly hands me the forms to fill out. I smile sweetly and turn to my fathers.

"You guys should be nice to the poor woman, seriously you both will be the death of all my teachers if you happen to meet them." I say shaking my head.

My parents looked at each other and shrugged. I took a seat at the provided desk and started my paperwork.

My parents had brought me to Cheshire so I could attend this specific school, since it was rumored to be the best in the medical field training. I was their only daughter, at 16 years old I knew exactly what my future would be. My wife was also my best friend. It was only natural that it would be that way. Everyone here married their best friend as long as they were the same gender. The ones who didn't were sent away. To a horrid place where everyone was poor.

I was getting trained as a surgeon since that would proved the needed stability for my future children and wife. It was strange knowing exactly how everything would turn out now. Since I was a little girl, I knew my place in society.

I finished my application and handed the papers back to the lady at the desk. She took them and nodded.

"We have to review your paperwork and your profile that is currently being transfered. That could take anywhere from 12 hours to 3 days. We'll call you if you've been approved to attend," she said in a monotone while typing furiously at the computer. I smiled and nodded at her.


We were in the car before someone spoke.
"That was very...interesting. George, did you know about the acceptance program?" Pop asked Dad. I remained silent in the backseat.

"No I didn't, it did not say anything about it in the pamphlet," Dad stated curtly.

"Kala, why dont you unpack your room while your dad and I talk in the kitchen?" Pop asked me once we got home. I nodded and bounded up the stairs. Unfortunately, I managed to miss the top step and almost fell on my face.

I made it to my room and shut the door. I looked around the all but empty room and planned what colour paint would go where. Once I finished that I opened the box containing my paint. Secretly when I was younger I wanted to be an artist of sorts. It was something that came easy to me and maybe if things were not the way they were I could be one.

I painted the walls a light blue colour and added in small deatails. A flower here and maybe some birds there. The end result was a beach scenery. I pushed my bed under the palm tree and started putting together my furniture.

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The day I met him was ultimately the best day in my life. The night was warm with a slight breeze.
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After I unpacked my room Dad called me down for dinner. We ate in silence and I could feel the tension between my parents. Halfway through dinner the fight started. Pop started by saying that we should have stayed in London where I was getting a better education and Dad escalated it from there. I cleared my area on the table and set my dishes in the dishwasher and went out the backdoor grabbing my purse and coat on my way out.

I took a walk around the neighborhood and found myself at the ice cream parlour near the park. I walked in, ordered my ice cream and found a place by the window to sit. I wasn't thinking about school or my future this time. I was thinking of my dads. They never fought over anything else, but when it came to what type of schooling I should be in they fought. It made me feel like I was the cause of their issues. I knew it wasn't true, but that's what it felt like. I took a bite of my ice cream.

I had been sitting there in that booth for a good hour eating ice cream or drinking soda before something interesting happened. A boy around my age came into the parlour and ordered something. I watched him silently. From this distance I noted that he was tall and had light brown hair. I turned back to the window when he turned around. A few moments later I heard someone sit in the seat across from me. I turned my head and saw him sitting there.

"Hi." He said simply.

"Hello." I looked into his eyes. A perfect green shade embodied them.

"My name's Gregory." His eyes sparkled.

"Mackayla." I couldn't breathe for some reason. The conversation we had was interesting. It felt weird talking to someone who wasn't my dad or pop. He wasn't a female either which was really interesting. We talked about everything. He told me about his best friend Thomas who he was supposed to marry when he was 18. I told him of my best friend Eleanor.

Around 10, I decided I should be going home. I said my goodbyes and left the parlour, my purse in hand and coat in the crook of my arm. A few moments later Gregory caught up to me.

"It wouldn't be wise for a young lady to walk herself home." That was his explanation as to why he'd come after me. We talked all the way home. It wasn't until I was inside my house that I noticed that he was going into the house next door.[i] Had he seen me leave earlier this evening? [I wondered to myself. I shook my head and put my coat and purse on its hook before turning out the lights and going to prepare for bed.

The next few days were a blur. I painted my furniture to match the theme of my room and got my shelves installed. My acceptance call came in and Pop took me to get school things, and dad helped me with packing my backpack.

My first day of school was weird. I had to adjust to all their classes which were different from the ones I took back in London. In London I was training to be an artist, that was up until Dad decided an artist isn't as great as a doctor. It was hard but possible. When I got home I discovered that my parents weren't home as usual. There was a note on the door. They were leaving me home alone all night so they could have some alone time. I just rolled my eyes and pulled the pizza rolls out of the freezer.

A few hours later I found myself on Greg's front door. Don't ask me what I was thinking because I honestly have no clue. His mum answered the door and asked me who I was there to see.

"I wanted to know if Gregory would be available." I asked politely. She nodded and lead me into the home and up the stairs to a room.

"Gregory, you have a friend over." She said. With one last look at me she smiled and went back downstairs.

Greg answered his door and pulled me in.
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I ended up spending all the time I could with Greg. Over time we started falling in love. It wasn't intentional. Unfortunately we both knew that it couldnt be.

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I was out of school for the next two months. I was glad I could spend more time with Greg and I could spend more time painting. When I got home my parents announced something to me.

"Kayla You may not see Gregory anymore. I will not have a daughter of mine marrying a boy!" My dad said.
In that instant I went to my room. Once I shut the door I started crying. The best day since the day I met him was now ruined by a single sentence and it killed me inside.

"Kala, We know that you're still young but....your father and I decided that we cannot permit you to be spending all your time with Gregory. You're to be married to Eleanor darling and we can't have people putting rumors out that you're going to marry a boy instead." Pop explained later when he came into the room. I just rested my head on his chest.

A few days later I was sneaking out of the house with Greg. He drove us to a ridge that looked out on the city. Greg looked me in the eye and that night we broke all the rules. We kissed. I hadnt felt anything like I felt for him before. After that kiss we kept our relationship secret. My dad let me see Gregory again after I stayed in my room for 2 weeks and didnt speak to him. Pop on the other hand could tell that I was hiding something. He believed me when I told him nothing was happening.

I proposed to Eleanor like I was supposed to when she came to visit over the summer, and Greg and I talked about our futures. He told me we could continue what we're doing now in secret, during mating season we could break the rules without breaking them. I told him that he was crazy, there was no way we'd be able to keep us a secret for very long after marriage.

After our talk we kind of just did what we always did. School was back in session and I was busy with homework.
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I was nearing my 17th birthday, Greg kept telling me he had something planned and indeed he did. indeed he did.
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My parents became more protective and worried about me when I turned 17. That day was magical and also upsetting.

I spent the day with my family and Fiance we went shopping and had a blast at a theme park. When I went to bed I was happy. Around 2 am I heard rocks hitting my window. I looked down and saw him standing there. My Greg. I climbed down the trellis and ran over to him.

We went to our secret spot and watched the stars. Our hands intertwined. We were in love. We felt like no one could come between us. Until we got caught. My parents banned me from seeing him and his parents banned him from seeing me. We didnt regret what we did but we were miserable. We found ways to see each other only if it lasted a minute.

Now almost three years later I'm walking up to the one I love the most. He's going to be my husband and I couldnt be happier. Gregory and I were to be wed and to be perfectly honest I dont care what everyone thinks. Im happy and that's all that matters right?