Freedom Kiss
Chapter One: Dreaming
Point of View: Hikari Kamiya
All my life, I always wanted something I knew I couldn't have: Freedom.
I know its weird wishing for such a thing when I'm only fifteen, but I want it… really bad.I've been having this dream for about two and a half months as of today. It goes a little something like this:
Everything in sight was only black and
white. You couldn't see color or happiness in anyone or anything.
The setting was this strange, vast, foggy land which was probably in
the middle of nowhere. In my dream, I was with TK, Ken, Miyako,
Yamato, Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Tai, and Joe. I'm not sure, but I think
Davis and Cody were there. I can't remember. Anyway, we were trying
to find a way out. Weird thing is, none of us were talking. We didn't
even look at each other. We were just trying to find a way out. Then,
a path appeared before me. I point it out to the others, and they
follow me. I was leading the way with TK right behind me. Behind me
were Ken and Miyako who were holding hands. Yamato and Sora were
doing the same. Behind them was everyone else. Funny thing is, even
though some of us were holding each other's hands, we were looking
away from each other.
We walked for what felt about an hour.
Still no sound, color, or happiness in sight. Everything was so
still. We kept walking along this path leading to nowhere. Suddenly,
a light shone upon us. In the blink of an eye there was color, there
was beauty, there was light. You could long on for miles and miles
and see nothing but sunlight. The setting went from depressing to
amazing. There were hills of green that rolled on forever. There was
a small stream running through the middle of this beautiful field. We
looked behind us and the fog faded away.
We began to look each other in the eyes once again. Ken and Miyako held hands with more passion, as did Yamato and Sora. They strolled off to a place where they could be alone. The others started to smile at one another and laugh. They were running around having fun. TK and I just sat beneath a shady tree.
"This place is beautiful." He observed.
"Mmhmm." I was busy admiring the breezes gently whipping through my hair.
"You know what's weird though?"
"What is it, TK?"
"I… don't really know actually. This place is giving me some sort of feeling. It's a good feeling, though. I feel free here. I have the power to make a choice. I feel like… I'm at home. Or at least, I want this place to be my home."
All I could do was stare at him in awe. He was right. Here, we were free. Here, we were able to make a choice. Here, I was happy. He looked down at me and our eyes connected – electric blue with deep red. In that moment, I felt complete; whole. I didn't want to leave.
When I awoke, I was drowning in my own despair. I wanted that place to be real. I wanted that happiness again. I began to cry because I felt sorry for myself; for this life. I wanted to find that place. I wasn't even sure if it existed! Still, I had to try. The greatest risk in life is not taking one, and I wasn't ready to let my dreams fall.
The next day of school was a let-down. Same people, same teachers, same routine, same life. I wanted to believe that I was born to live something more than this life. I want to believe there's a place out there just like the one in my dream. However, I decided to have low hopes. It hurts enough to watch them fall. I didn't want to deal with the pain.
I walked into the cafeteria and was greeted by a pair of the electric-blue eyes I fell in love with in my dream.
"Hey, Kari!" He greeted happily.
"Hey, TK." I didn't bother matching the same enthusiasm he had. I'd be trying too hard.
"You sound very ecstatic today." He said sarcastically. He smiled such a beautiful smile. I couldn't help but smile. It's hard to resist the charms of TK.
"Yes, definitely."
"You didn't sleep very well again,
did you?" He said more serious. Though it was a question, he
implied it as if it was a sentence. He knew me too well.
"Well…"
I could lie and make him not worry but he'd know I'm lying. He
would just feel even more worried. I decided to tell the truth.
"Yeah."
"What time did you go to sleep?"
"I don't think it matters anymore. Let's face it, I have insomnia."
"This has been going on for almost three months. What's wrong?" He asked with concern.
"Nothing! I guess I got a lot on my mind right now."
"Like what?"
I wanted to say "Drop it, okay?"
but I could never live with myself if I said that to TK. He's too
kind. "I've just… been having this weird dream."
"What
happens in your dream?"
"Why does it matter?" I asked
getting a little annoyed.
"Kari, I care about you a lot. I
always put your safety before my own. It's really unhealthy for you
to be getting a maximum of three hours of sleep each night. I just
want to make sure you're okay." He replied, genuinely, sweetly,
and honestly.
I tried to look away from him but his eyes were mesmerizing me. I never noticed how brilliant they were until I had that dream. I decided to tell him as long as he promised not to tell anyone about it. It took me a good fifteen minutes to explain everything to him.
"I see. And you want to find this place?"
"Yeah… I want freedom, TK! I know I'm only fifteen but I've never wanted anything so bad in my entire life. I never have the power to choose or to say what's on my mind without getting scolded! I always have to be back a certain time or I can't choose who my friends are…" I kept going on and on about how pathetic my life was. "I never get any respect from my parents! If I dislike something they like, I get beaten! It's not fair! If they like something I absolutely loathe, I respect their opinion!" I started to calm down.
"I know what you mean, Kari. I don't think it's foolish at all to want this so bad." He said.
I began to talk again, but softly. "Sometimes I try to imagine that I'm a bird or a horse. But not a horse that is used to pull things around – a horse that's able to run free and swiftly among the green grass without a care in the world. I envy them in a way."
TK gently placed his hand on my shoulder. It felt soothing. "We'll find it one day. This I promise you, Kari."
Instinctively, I took his hand off my shoulder and held it. Suddenly, the world stopped moving around us. Here I was, sitting with my fingers intertwined with a boy with brilliant eyes.
"You're the only reason why I smile everyday, TK."
"Kari, you're the only reason why I look forward to living each day."
