RP Post #2 Introducing Yuki to Astrea Academy

Tossing and turning the rest of the night, there didn't seem to be any sleep left in her system. She just lay in bed her arms covering her eyes. Willing herself to sleep and trying to remind herself what the consequences might be in the morning. 'I'm going to get bags under my eyes because of this. Not to mention orientation is going to be long and I'm going to look like an idiot on my first day of school.' Before she had finished this thought, she noticed the growing light in the room which wasn't emitted by her small night lamp. Sighing she sat up and looked around her one last time before getting off the bed and into the shower. 

The warmth of the water soothed her aching muscles as she stretched her limbs. Because of the dream she hadn't realized that her muscles had been bunched up and tense. It felt comforting to stand there, surrounded by the warmth, 'I wonder if this is what a mother's embrace feels like...?' she thought to herself as she let her eyes close and imagined the warmth of the water as a warm embrace. She usually didn't let these thoughts surface when she was with others and typically tried to keep her mind off these emotions with studying and prefect duties but now that she was moving away there seemed to be an emotional well that was bubbling inside her, threatening to burst. Tears burned at the back of her eyes as she fought to keep her mind off the growing loneliness that she felt at the thought of leaving Cross Academy, the only home she had ever known. Hurriedly she finished her shower and dried herself. Brushing her hair and teeth at full speed, she packed the remainder of her belongings and checked the few bags she was taking with her. She didn't have any appetite for breakfast so she went on a last tour of the campus while dawn peaked in the horizon above her and she looked at the beautiful hues of the sky for the last time. 

By the time she returned to the Directors living quarters the sun was up and Kaien Cross was almost done with his morning coffee. Peaking into the office she fixed a smile on her face and bid herself to forget all the sad emotions the minute she crossed the threshold of his door. "Good morning Director Cross! Are you ready to go?" She smiled her brightest smile, looking at the man who had helped to raise her for the past six years as a single parent. His golden hair and beautiful smile had always warmed her heart and she felt like she was needed when ever he called her name. Today there was no smile and no response as he seemed to stare at the newspaper in front of him, in fact he seemed to mirror the emotions that ran amok in her heart. Yuki felt her facade fading. 'No, I can't be like him. If he finds out I'm just as upset he won't let me go! Ugh..why do I feel this way? Especially when I'm the one who begged him to give me this opportunity.' She shook her head and called out to him again, "Father~~~~~Hello!"She moved her hand in front of his face, bringing him back to her with an  apologizing grin. "What are you spacing out there for? We have to go in a few minutes. I've got everything ready downstairs and almost in the car. My train will be arriving in 30 minutes." Kaien Cross' eyes grew soft as he gently smiled at his daughter. "Yeah I'm ready to go just give me a second." Yuki made a move to leave the room, "Okay dad, I'll see you outside then." She didn't feel like staying in the same room with him for too long, afraid that she'd break her own resolve to leave her father with a smile. 

The car ride to the train station was quiet as both struggled with their emotions. Kaien Cross gave his only child a few tidbits of advice on how to deal with her new life abroad and how to make sure that all her paperwork was complete. She knew he wasn't very good at expressing himself when he was serious. Especially when he felt emotional. She could tell he was on the brink of tears. Once at the station they made sure her passport was stamped and he walked with her to the platform. As she turned around to say thank you and good bye, Director Cross had her in a tight embrace. The strength of his arms that made her feel safe and the warmth of his love came through to her. Suddenly the tears broke through her lashes as she buried her face into his shoulder, holding on to him. "I'm gonna miss you dad. I'm really going to miss you," she mumbled. She could feel him shaking his head in agreement as his arms squeezed her tighter. They stayed like that until the train whistled for the last boarding call and she gave him a peck on the cheek and smiled, "Don't worry dad I'll see you in a few weeks. Take good care of your health and make sure to get your sleep." Jumping into the train she could see him following her till she sat down in her seat and waved until he was out of sight. 

Slumping into the soft cushion of the seats, she settled herself for the long trip to Astrea Academy. Her baggage had been settled into the compartments above her head and her papers were secure in her jacket pocket. She'd hadn't worn her new school uniform in fear of having it rumpled during the ride, and instead chosen to wear comfortable lose fitting sweat pants and a plain t-shirt. Her iPhone was charged and she put on her Oriental Relaxation Music App with an alarm in two hours. It would give her enough time to rest and still be able to get ready in the ladies powder room before she arrived on the main campus station. She could feel her eyelids getting heavier as the music became a part of her thoughts and she felt herself surrounded by the sound of rain and the slow steady rhythm of her heartbeat. 

Translation 1: 女の子 {The Little Girl} - Part 1

大きい家があります。
There is a big house.
とても大きい家です。
It is a very big house.
大きい家の大きい部屋に、女の子がいます。
In the big house is a big room and a little girl. 
部屋には、ものがたくさんいます。
There are lots of things in the room.
絵本もピアノもテレビもあります。
There is a piano, a picture book and a TV.
人形もあります。
There are dolls too.
でも、一つだけありません。
But there was one thing that was not there.
それは、「言葉」。
That was "words".
女の子は「言葉」を言いません。
The little girl did not say "words".
そして、笑いません。
And so, she didn't laugh.
女の子の家には、お父さんもいます。
In the little girl's house, there was father.
お母さんもいます。
There was mother too.
でも、女の子は、いつも一人です。
But the little girl was always alone.
隣の部屋から、お父さんの大きい声。
In the room next door, there is father's big voice.
お母さんの大きい声。
Mother's big voice.
そして、ドアを音　（バタン！）
Then there is a sound (Bang!).

Being Thankful

Watching episode 1 of a drama called Around 40, I realized that even when we as human beings are immersed and happy in our lives, there will always be people around us who will not be happy for us. They might do it in the form of, "Oh I only wish for your happiness," or "Oh poor thing! I feel so sorry for you". Even though you may not have thought yourself to be the object of anyone's pity, you are suddenly forced to look at what you don't have. You may have felt content with your life until you let someone else's words come into your life and tell you that what you have is not enough. That is the point when even the most thankful of us become unthankful and depressed. We end up convincing ourselves of how pathetic we are. There is so much that we are missing even though just a day before we may have been extremely happy with the same circumstances only a day before. Just because our lives have a steady pattern does not mean that there is nothing else to live for. Just because we have a schedule that is full, doesn't mean that we are necessarily overworked. People who live in dire conditions who may have been laid off or worse in a country with less facilities or in wartorn areas are still fighting to live and survive yet it is usually the people who live in developed countries are patients of depression. Why? Why can't we be happy with what we have? We are truly blessed. If we have a stable job, if we are going to school, if we are working at home as mothers or even if we are old and retired. We are blessed because we have been provided for in every way. Shouldn't we then be thinking more about helping those who may not? Why worry about whay we don't have? Shouldn't we focus on what we do have? Unfortunately, in today's society there will always be someone there to remind us of what we don't have. Whether it is tv advertisments or our coworkers, whether its our family or our friends there will always be something 'missing' that is apparently wrong with our lives. Focusing on what we have will help us be thankful and hope that whatever comes in the future will bring blessings to us and to those all around us is the best way to live one's life.