Till Worlds Do Us Part

y everyone went about their morning. There was excitement in the air, like something was about to ha

we didn't see Y

t the excitement when t

ollowed. We kept walking for a long time and I was a little bit scared. We were walking in single file with the

great wall. We stopped in front of the bamboo wall and I looked back at

The crowd that were already inside started to applaud and cheer on. The chief entered and we followed and then the people that had opened the bamboo gate

They sat so that there was a big open ground in the middle. Others were standing around and ot

f the people and Gamu and myself w

again to give a speech. I started scanning th

oké or Uma?"

shru

ed drums, 1 played the flute and four were dancing. Everyone was clapping and enjoying the show. It was so exc

e and nudged me. When I loo

li was much easier than Loke. When he heard that he beam

ortable that he was s

as Abu and said that he al

een Yoké?"

started to touch and

in the corner. Uma was looking towar

s too happy to see Yoké that I

running towards them stil

free her wrist but it was too late

to see me, he greeted

nly greeted Gamu and l

even loo

or you since lon

h.

ok too happy

d with the guys and tol

ong?" I as

to go back before the ch

t she said.

why aren't you

happy to see you, what difference woul

d, why was he ac

ke that, in fact he is not the only one, I've hear

at make

t and watche

ok

lage. The guys are not allowed to play with girls' hair or skin or touch them.

I'm s

for a while an

eople aren't giving the others a cha

etting tired of t

o?" I asked Yo

u replied

?" Yoké seemed amazed. "And you are eve

"We are teachi

d to come with and Uma said tha

. Uma told her something that I didn't understand and she nodded slowly and

Uma say

ld come with me only

d. "That

ed and

him." I sai

all

d singing about him when we go

Yoké looke

then I started hearing Uma, Uma, Uma every time she spoke, a

I tell

py to know that I told you, she's

re right. U

ou mean?"

re never scared t

't want my hea

ted to

ur hand all the way t

down at t

here... Nothing will

then took my hand in his and w

. I was also smiling. It was the first time I was holding Yoké's hand or a

ands, she gasped and then shut her mouth q

ughed quietly

ver tell.

" Yoké s

t was dark. Yoké and I were still hand in hand following

, my brother?" Yoké

, don't worry

ued follo

ing, I didn't know about wh

ok

, la

the show is about to

all of a sudden.

You hear

distant sound of ambiance. There were

e know we have to get back quickly before Fur

inued w

en know whe

don't know where we are goi

pen space and the beauty of th

w where we

. You bath here

frowned and stopped. "

e laughed so hard he

aid crossing my ar

u think?" H

n't k

n into separate dens and then early that morning before the sun rose we would be beheaded in front of the wh

I imagined Yoké being caught. Otherwise, I knew he'd never do somethin

houghtful so he nudged

ady there standing before th

hispered something in Uma's ear.

back and t

he smiled shyly and lo

nd we sat down before the still river. We

e water looked black with only the light of the h

d you te

down at the little

that Gamu likes him. An

d Uma was the one talking. I smile

from there too." Yok

. "You t

idn't stop maki

dy.

es

ou stand out from all the

ooked down. "A

ll

ook like them, my hair is not as strong as them, my ey

d you that your eyes

k iris meant power and confidence and

e. So bad that it was only me who was stared at and talked about ever

chuckled, and then he turned

wiped my tear, and th

dy.

m?

doubted that. When I met you I doubted so many things I believed in. Things that were fed to me when I was just a little boy. Yo

my hair be

, you are the first girl with the guts to touch my hair. You

so much better knowing t

ere not made to blend in here. You were brought to shine off

aug

ifferent it's okay. I like your soft hair

ds in his and

nk y

ing the middle finger on my

ha

t the back of the hand my skin was lighter than the rest of th

hat before." I exa

one of your man

fingers on my right ha

this finge

." Yoké was already distracted.

y? What if I bath with the other gir

you ba

o you

na used to

ying to tell a joke but I didn

er of Furah a

ve a dau

he pass

"I didn't

ell into an animal trap and died. All the healers of the village tried to wake her up but she

u know

he enjoyed her own company. I would see her around in the mountains some

re's so many carv

u. I believe you have a name that belongs to only you and no one else. You just ha

chief took me in

eir only child. I heard stories that Furah and the chief had tried to conceive for a long time but never got a child, an

r Furah. No wonder she loves me s

ain after Rena's death. You are here now,

he hates m

rs ago. She would ha

over my face and kept

my hands o

ow how old

divert my attention again,

ok my

four. How ol

. You know I

ust so sad. I don't like seeing y

ead on his chest and my

e made a small attempt

sad." I told him and

hugged me back with his

his village, how am I to tell you all of t

ies about the village but you

is arms and tur

want to kno

ere is your mot

but a ha

... and my father... well let's just say

about you

ugh sometimes I do wonder if she was alive what she'd look li

ar off into

have looked beauti

sadly. "Yo

I'm s

and look

I have nothing to do in the hut. My heart tells me

ee them

at I'm always painting, the first time

t really bad that I asked about his famil

are the only person in this vi

e out, he was distracted at something behind me. I loo

stopped!" Ga

mbled to our

go?" Yoké a

ve to hurry back

ké held my hand to help me run faster.

nd could see the lights from the

here, if anyone sees us

ckly. "I'll see you t

es

d, we then sprinted to the arena, w

mu told me and we quick

dn't you tell her that we le

vous. "But she insisted th

of my chest! Wha

ief fr

wha

red up behind us w

in front of ev

ake you to the

ed to t

n't do her stomach so well, so

rted laughing. I

d. "That's t

and was about to turn around when so

s not

ice. And I knew that this wasn't going to end well. I wis

hat?" The C

d and stood next to me. He looked

know my time in this villa

started, they were first seated in front of me,

ne including myself t

un off into the forest. I followed them because I knew they were about to do

was next to the chief and she

ere the

e this anymore

ult chief, it was ju

ven louder and then th

her. Gamu was only accompanying her. She

u doing th

a beautiful voice and I thought to myself, why? Why hide such a

atmosphere disappeared. The chief roll

neighboring villagers have so much ta

left without us. The villagers s

with a warm sad smile.

t event you will be the firs

rned around and

hed simultaneously. Gamu shook her head

t me and no

e well tomorro

yes at him an