From the day you are born, you are put in a role by your assigned gender. Leader, if you are a man, and caretaker if you are a woman.
Even if you refused these roles, the world or your family will remind you of them, and the chores will remind you of them. Your aging hands will remind you of them, and your wilted hands will scream at you your name as your future partner looks at you in disapproval.
First, it was your family who baited you into safety, coddled you while you were young, and forced reality down your throat as you got older. Name-calling, disappointed looks, sly remarks, and so much more, 'All to prepare you, they say, 'For the world that will be much more cruel than us', they claim.
But so far, the only cruelty you saw was from them, your smile being ripped away, your innocence tarnished, and a new world awaiting you as you come of age. A job world that you will learn does not care for you either, words and whispers growing bigger as they talk about your job. The low status that you started with and the ache of working in a place that you did not like from the start, hit you faster than you realize.
A slow but effective poison brews in your chest and starts to spread as you continue each day of your job. Your eyes growing heavy, your hands callous, and your mouth dry from all the times your manager told you to hold your tongue. For the customer is always right, and you are just a servant to those who call you. Your name is stripped from you, your hair is too unkept, and your nails are too long.
Yet you keep going on because your family would believe you are a failure if you quit, and your manager already believes you are weak. Your parents already regret your birth, even though you are a part of them, and your siblings laugh at your tears.
The salty, wet liquid that you weep every night after work as your Mental Health starts to decline with your body. Your age is rapidly competing with your psyche as you mourn what could have been. Your doctor is giving you signs of warning, as your eyes droop lower than you can bear, and back pain is becoming your new roommate as you clock in each morning.
Then you start to wonder if it is anyone else who feels this way. Who lacks the happiness to continue, and who waits day to day, waiting for the day to end.
For we are fragile beings with a heart made of glass, so easy to shatter, yet we still survive with it broken. Pieces scattered all over the floor, yet we put them up and cut ourselves like it's nothing.
Are we truly nothing?
Or are we truly something?
"Food is almost done, just waiting for the duck now." She stirred the pot of orange and green while looking over to Jonathan and Leonardo. A sappy glance was cast at her as Johnathan sighed and raised their brows.
"Everything okay?"
"No, I just don't understand such hospitality, I mean, I see the way the village looks at you yet…"
"I still find a reason to smile?"
"Yeah."
She laughs, "Someone has to, or else there would be a bunch of angry people around plus…"
She held the wooden spoon tight in her hands, "I hope to change my fate, in what was already cursed upon me."
"Cursed upon you?"
Regina squeezed the spoon tighter, "Yeah, but it's not a big deal, let's just say anyone who comes by from the village, I'll have the same hospitality even if they are not so kind."
Leo stood up out of his seat and walked to the door, turning to Regina and eyeing Johnathan one last time before heading out the door.
A loud slam followed, making Jonathan jump, yet Regina ignored it, finishing up her soup.
"Food has a few minutes now, shouldn't be long-"
"What's his problem?!"
Regina tensed up, sucking in her chest and lips, "He's probably frustrated."
"Does he get like that with you?"
Regina waved her hands frantically, "No, no, he's actually really sweet, kind, and..."
She lowered her voice, "Handsome."
"What was the last part?"
"Oh, nothing, just said he's a gentleman, been since I rescu-met him."
"Rescued?"
"I meant met, you know how words can get jumbled up like birds." Regina laughed dryly, "Anyway, tell me what you've been up to."
"Why are you dodging the question?"
"I am not."
"Yes, you are."
"No I am not, I just misspoke."
Regina tasted some of the soup and nodded, "Okay, it's done-"
"You owe it to me."
Regina paused, "Owe?"
Johnathan clicked their tongue, "I mean-I'm curious so-"
"No no, you are owed, remember? Just like you said."
Regina smiled and Johnathan frowned, "I didn't mean it like that, Regina-"
"Oh, but you did and that's okay."
Regina grabbed a plate, bowl and utensils out of her cupboard and fixed a plate for Johnathan. Putting some duck on the plate with some parsley as garish and pouring a bowl of carrot soup.
She placed everything in front of Johnathan and put her hands to the side, "I said rescued because he was also attacked, so I saved him, at least doing my best to heal him."
"What was he attacked by?"
"A cursed wolf."
"The one that keeps tormenting the village?"
She nodded, "Very same one, now eat."
Johnathan put their head down and started to pick up some of the duck, slowly chewing and adding a spoon full of the carrot soup.
"It's good."
"Thank you."
Johnathan continued to eat, absorbing the herbs and spices and sipping the soup down as Regina walked up to them.
"I know we aren't friends, so no need to pretend like we are."
The door open and Leonardo, bursted in, "I caught some rabbits."