even if i could go back, i don't belong there anymore
There was a sense of relief when Sunjata said that her new nephews weren't from the gods. What came as a surprise to her was that they were orphans that he and Nate rescued and adopted. Saartjie's mind drifted back to Korofi and the laws that were put in place for the noble families had to abide by. She remembered one incident in particular where a baby was taken away from his family because the parents had already had a son. She could remember the mother pleading and begging to keep her son and the enforcers taking the baby anyway. She'd asked her mother what was happening and why they were taking a baby from his parents. All her mother had said was that she would understand when she was older.
Saar also remembered the orphanages in Korofi, and the poor children that was so desperate to be adopted that they would resort to begging strangers just so they could have a family. Most of those kids were kicked out of the orphanages with little more than the clothes on their backs when they became adults and ended up living in the slums. She imagined most of the kids that aged out of the orphanage ended up becoming part of the rebellion. A frown pulled the corners of her mouth down as she thought about it and thought about how the nobles could have done something about it if they had wanted to. If they had been interested in more than maintaining their power.
"Good." Saar finally said, looking up at her brother. "Every child deserves a family. A good family." And there was no doubt that the boys had that with Sunjata and Nate. She looked away again as Jata agreed to walking. Having her arm linked through his reminded her a lot of Korofi and would walk through their mother's garden pretending to be good children, when they were really quietly talking about what life would be like away from Shaju. Away from Korofi, the oppressive laws, and the constant surveillance they were under from their father and his enforcers.
She walked in silence for a few minutes before looking up at her brother. "Jata?" She waited for him to respond before she started to speak again. "...you know I love you, right? I wasn't trying to hurt you or upset you ... and I'm sorry that I did." She just ... she wasn't used to seeing him like he was because he'd always seemed so confident and sure of himself even when the odds were stacked against him. "If there's something wrong ... or bothering you I'm here. All you have to do is talk to me. I promise to listen." Without judgement and to offer whatever advice I can.
Saar also remembered the orphanages in Korofi, and the poor children that was so desperate to be adopted that they would resort to begging strangers just so they could have a family. Most of those kids were kicked out of the orphanages with little more than the clothes on their backs when they became adults and ended up living in the slums. She imagined most of the kids that aged out of the orphanage ended up becoming part of the rebellion. A frown pulled the corners of her mouth down as she thought about it and thought about how the nobles could have done something about it if they had wanted to. If they had been interested in more than maintaining their power.
"Good." Saar finally said, looking up at her brother. "Every child deserves a family. A good family." And there was no doubt that the boys had that with Sunjata and Nate. She looked away again as Jata agreed to walking. Having her arm linked through his reminded her a lot of Korofi and would walk through their mother's garden pretending to be good children, when they were really quietly talking about what life would be like away from Shaju. Away from Korofi, the oppressive laws, and the constant surveillance they were under from their father and his enforcers.
She walked in silence for a few minutes before looking up at her brother. "Jata?" She waited for him to respond before she started to speak again. "...you know I love you, right? I wasn't trying to hurt you or upset you ... and I'm sorry that I did." She just ... she wasn't used to seeing him like he was because he'd always seemed so confident and sure of himself even when the odds were stacked against him. "If there's something wrong ... or bothering you I'm here. All you have to do is talk to me. I promise to listen." Without judgement and to offer whatever advice I can.
Saartjie
