When the day parents from other factions visited their children came, I fully didn't expect anyone to be waiting for me, though I went anyway so no one would ask why I thought my family wouldn't come. None of them could comprehend the feeling of not belonging and knowing without any doubt the people who'd taken you in to "care for as their own" had done everything but that. I wasn't surprised no one was there for me, though I did get to meet most of my classmates' relatives. After a while, the longing to feel like a part of their happy world was too much and I slipped away to explore. I eventually found a quiet place under the bridge on the rocky shore of "the Chasm" as all Dauntless referred to it as. I knew people had committed suicide here, but the underground waterfall was beautiful to look at. The sound of the rushing water was peaceful and allowed me to think undisturbed.
"Thought I might find you here. Folks couldn't make it?"
I glanced up to see Marion join me. "More like never planned on coming. My real parents died when I was little and the foster family I was placed with didn't ever like me. Guess I was too Dauntless for their taste."
"Their loss." He said and looked out over the water. "You'll fit in well here."
"Doesn't mean I should get comfortable."
He made a sound I could have sworn was a suppressed chuckle. "I'll let you in on a little known secret: No one smart gets comfortable in their faction. Doesn't matter if you were born there or chose it because a test told you to, you always stay on edge."
I glanced at him. "Speaking from experience?"
"I transferred from Candor a lifetime ago. Never regretted my decision, but never allowed myself to relax here either. When Liam told me he was going to choose Erudite, I didn't exactly approve but after his older brother Sean committed suicide by train when he couldn't make the lists here, I couldn't bring myself to forbid him to go. Too much of his mother in him, I guess."
"What was she like?" I blurted out and realized that I shouldn't have asked considering what little Liam had told me.
To my surprise, Marion answered: "Actually, she was a lot like you. Liam was probably drawn to you because of that."
I sighed. "Yeah well, I guess we're not exactly dating now since I'm in a different faction. Didn't really think of that till Eric called me Liam's ex the other day."
"Eric's always trying to rattle cages these days. Don't pay any attention to him. What you kids decide is up to you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
He stood up. "Any time. Ready to head up for lunch?"
My stomach rumbled in protest as I contemplated staying put. "Sure, now's a good a time as ever."
We climbed back up together and went to the dinning hall where we parted ways. I grabbed a tray and picked whatever food looked good.
"Emma, over here!" Abagail called from her seat with her parents, both of whom were wearing the same outfit she had been at the Choosing Ceremony.
I joined them with a smile. "You must be Mr and Mrs Green."
"You can call me Hugh, Emma." Her father smiled. "And this is my wife Judith. She's mute and uses sign language to communicate." His wife made some motions with her hand. "She says it's very nice to meet the girl who has been so nice to our daughter."
"We girls gotta look after each other with all these boys around." I gestured around the room.
Judith nodded her agreement.
"Your parents couldn't make it?" Abagail asked.
"No, though I'm sure they would have liked to. They passed away."
"So sorry to hear that. It's probably hard to see all these families without missing them."
I looked at Hugh in mild surprise. "A little bit, yeah."
"Judith and I understand how that feels. We took care of her ailing parents for many years as a community, trying to ease their pain before they passed on just before she and I got married."
"That sounds a lot harder than what I had to go through."
"Loss takes many forms." Hugh translated as his wife gestured with her hands. "It doesn't make your pain any less."
It felt nice to be around genuine people who clearly had nothing to hide. I'd heard those in Amity were accepting, though I'd never actually met one before Abagail. Her naturally kind disposition had made fighting and shooting range classes harder for her, but she'd gotten better after I pointed out those were forms of self defense needed in Dauntless. As I ate with them, I wondered what her parents thought about their daughter's choice even if them being here was a sign they supported her at least, but I didn't ask. After the meal was over, I return to the initiate dorm with Abagail and we bunked down for the night.
"Hey Abby?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you teach me sign language?"
"Of course."
I smiled in appreciation as I drifted off to sleep.
