The Promise of Freedom
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Ben breathes deeply before beginning to climb. He loves this, lives for this moment, this time when he can climb away from the confinement of Manticore. Training is done for the day, he has succeeded, fulfilled every goal expected of him, surpassing many, but each one brings more expectations until they are all hustled back to their dorm, to their hard beds and starched sheets.
This is what he lives for, climbing to the high place. He stands on the roof, breathes in the air, the freedom and thanks the Blue Lady for letting him have this, asking her to protect him and his brothers and sisters tomorrow like she has protected them in the day now ending. He closes his eyes, feels the wind on his face and imagines it's her breath, a kiss of sorts, a promise that there will be a time when he can no longer be contained, confined by the rules and regulations, the walls and guards of Manticore.
There will come a time when he is free to be all that he can.