The day of Aemot

Her alarm went off. A loud unpleasant noise that went on until Claire came knocking on the door. She let herself inside to turn it off and wake Yvonne who had decided to ignore the wake up call today.

It was a normal, peaceful morning. Just as usual in their small neighborhood in a town called Tenet.

"Get up, get up"

Yvonne knew there was no use ignoring her elder sister. She dragged herself up from her futon.

"Good morning" she greeted, walking past her sister who went on their brother's room to do the same.

It usually took them forty minutes to get ready for school. After which, today, Claire layed out some errands for Yvonne.

"Get to Ryde's for me today, will ya?" she asked Yvonne just as she was about to step out to school with her younger brother.

"Ohh. We're having meat today?"

He asked happily.

"Yes, Hugo. It's not such a rare occasion, is it?"

Claire sent them off and soon after, left to her own workplace too.

Yvonne reached school after a fifteen minute walk, along with her brother. They went their separate ways as soon as they reached the gate. Yvonne's friend, Rem, always waited for her by the gate. Yvonne usually arrived school just after she does so she usually waits, so they can walk together for the rest of the school day. Since Yvonne mostly kept to herself, she barely had people as close to her as Rem was.

"Good morning"

"Good morning"

Friends met and greeted each other.

It was also a normal day in school. Aside from classes, it was just her and Rem and a few random jokes about her and Sty. That was a new normal at least. Sty was a stud in school. He was also an extrovert and one funny guy. He hung out with his clique of young boys who usually caught the attention of both the girls and the school as well. And Yvonne, an ordinary sixteen year old student. She had a soft and smooth tone to to her face. So did her skin, natural and even alabaster. That alone would've made her much popular among the girls, if she wasn't so reserved and shy. And while most people avoided her since she acted too 'high', it wasn't enough to prevent Sty from asking her out last week publicly. He had stood there, probably expecting a positive response of any sort from Yvonne who stood there with almost everyone's eyes on her.

She had been taken by surprise, and not knowing what else to do, she simply walked out, her face void of expression.

It was mostly a scandal for Sty, who probably wasn't used to getting rejected, publicly. And till now, ever since then, people often made jokes about that moment, calling her the 'ice queen', mostly attributed to her porcelain skin and her expressionless face that day, which must've cut the ropes for Sty since he never approached her again since that day.

But she was mostly misunderstood though, with people misreading her actions sometimes as how she actually felt.

And that was mostly all, up till after school, when she waved goodbye to Rem before getting back with her brother.

"I'll be going to Ryde's now. I'll be back soon" she told Hugo as they exited the school premises, parting ways.

Yvonne took a different street, where she would slip through the backyard of an old house and take the path behind the houses that faced away from the city just across the river down hill. There was a long bridge that ran across the wide river. It connected not just the suburbs of Tenet but also neighbouring towns to Almond, one of the most busiest cities in the country. She had been there once or twice before; it was a very different world from here.

And here, the evening felt warm. The river reflected millions of golden rays in the ripples that moved about constantly. It was a beautiful view, along with the trees and shrubs down the small depression to the river bank. She stopped to really enjoy it since this was one thing she actually loved. She smiled at the setting sun, and the golden river.

"It's a nice view ehh?"

Someone said from one of the houses behind her. She turned immediately, looking up. The old man also seemed to be enjoying the view too from the balcony upstairs.

"Yeah"

"The sun" he continued.

"Even though most people take it for granted, it's still most beautiful at sunset. Just before it disappears for the long night"

Yvonne looked at the sun again. It wasn't at it's brightest and so she could make out it's orange disks.

"Yeah. It's beautiful" she said, before continuing her errand.

The path led back to a different street where one of the local beef dealers was. Claire had given her enough money for three packs. Bigger than usual. There wasn't really any occasion. Her elder sister was just like that sometimes, where she'd just, out of the blues, spend more on their meals that day. Yvonne and her brother could tell she tried her best, giving them the most their life here could offer.

"Good evening"

The owner of the shop was actually a young man with much finer facial features than any other butcher she'd seen, most of whom were old men. Sometimes she wondered how someone like him would be stuck here cutting and selling meat. People like him usually worked in the city. He was probably a bit older than Claire who definitely worked in the city. Even though he had always been warm and gentle with them, he still seemed strange to her.

"Yo, Yuvie"

"Three packs" she said, dropping the money on the table as soon as she brought it out.

"Hmph. I've told you not to give out your money before service is rendered. People can be stupid sometimes, y'know" he said, probably expecting her to take the money back while he sharpened his knives. She didn't.

"Ha, but you don't think I'm stupid, do you" he laughed lightly. "That's progress"

He began chopping up portions she knew were bigger than the normal portions for these packs.

"How's your sister?"

"Come find out yourself"

"And Hugo?"

"Fine"

This was the guy who had been all over Claire since she could remember. At some point, they did get together, but that was until something happened between them. Apparently, he took the blame and had been trying to get back with her ever since. Yvonne wondered how her sister kept this guy at bay all this time. Despite his odd job, he was a fine, young gentleman.

Yvonne returned home soon enough, just after Claire. Then they began preparations for a dinner of beef stew. After which, they watched TV together, completing a long series which they had started a few weeks ago.

Just before she slept, she thought of the sunset that evening and what the old man had said. She even dreamt about it.