The lines between each day blur from the last. As I rest my elbows against the hard desk I find myself placed before, I can't help but stare past the rain-streaked windows and look upon the black clouds outside, knowing that there is something past them. It's far easier to disconnect from the miscellaneous ramblings I am told will prepare me for the future when I know someone is out there trudging through the same monotony day by day as I.
It's so incredibly easy to see through the feign of education and see the system for what it truly is: creating mindless workers. They dump so much work upon your shoulders that you seldom have time to reflect and see how meaningless it can be; you are just far too busy to think. That's one benefit of being a slacker, I suppose. I won't let the system force me into a mold. You can tell that these teachers lack the passion for even their own material, just trying to cram in as much information as they can in the shortest amount of time possible so you can pass an exam and get into university. Then you can go get work. When it comes to careers, they keep on top of things. When it comes to anything else, it's as if there's no problem at all. To me, it's all just superficial nonsense created by humans to solve human problems. It just feels unnatural.
I removed my black blazer and hung it over the hard plastic chair that curves my back into an unnatural hunch that enables me to feel every vertebrae of my spine. My heart soon begins to race as I open my small black laptop, giddy with excitement that I have a friend no one else can have, someone I can share my experience with. In these types of classes, the computer is my best friend. How else can I expect to remain awake? Once I log in, I check the time on the lower right corner and see that class won't end for another forty-minutes. The weight of having to still endure this class hits me like a runaway train and syphons whatever energy I had left, but at least it's enough time for an email.
While I sit in the corner of my table, I feel an influx of joy that suddenly brightens the miserable dulling light inside the classroom. There is someone I can share my troubles with, even if she does live a lightyear away. As the thought of her last message lingers in my mind, I begin to compose a new message. It's a struggle at first to come up with the right words. Even though we have been talking for a couple of weeks, my anxieties make me feel that I could easily scare her away.
Dear Aayani,
I'm sorry I haven't contacted you these past few days, it's nearly the end of the term, meaning all of my teachers think it's a bright idea to drop all of these hefty final assignments on us at once.
Regarding your previous email, I must say that Zenkulon sounds absolutely astounding. I mean, the way you describe the place makes it sound like a total cyber-city. The organic architecture combined with colourful ultraviolet lights that makes everything glow sounds like such an aesthetically pleasing world. I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. It sucks how bland earth can be, not to mention how we leave the aesthetic choices of our environment up to a few companies who don't know anything about creativity. They prefer sleek and dull modernism compared to colour because they think it looks good, not anyone else. I bet your world isn't controlled by a few corporations. Honestly, it sounds like you are living in a visual dream world.
To answer your previous question, I do have friends, but it's a bit complicated. What I mean is that I've got a few mates, sure, but we're different. Since I turned 18, I have been beginning to wake up per se, and notice things that just don't seem the way they should. Friends should have your back, make your voice heard, and most importantly, accept you. I realise now that these qualities don't apply to them all. It's unfortunate because the bulk of them get along just fine with each other. They all play the same videogames and have the same interests in subjects and hobbies alike, except for me. They're fine to hang out with in school, but outside, it just wouldn't work.
I'm interested to hear about your life on Zenkulon. We may be 'sister planets' and your species evolved from the remnants of earth shot into space when the asteroid that created the moon collided into my planet and launched matter into deep space? If I remember correctly, but our worlds couldn't be that similar, could they? What are some things your culture has been taught about earth?
I look forward to receiving your reply. The thought that I would be able to message an 'alien' is something so indescribably amazing. Nothing else matters because we understand each other. We can get through the last year of our secondary education together no matter what it throws at us.
Once I finish proofreading several times and finally hit send, I can't resist imagining the journey my message takes through the vastness of space, shooting past the stars and cutting across planets, knowing that there's someone out there eagerly waiting to receive it. All I can do now is wait for the day that will be brightened by her reply.
Dear Antonio
There's no need to apologise for the delay in your response. I sympathise with how inefficient your teachers can be, because mine are more or less the same. It sucks how they value cramming in knowledge rather than putting emphasis on actual teaching and interest in the subject material. It won't create intrigue; it will create resentment.
While Zenkulon may sound like a place out of pure science fiction, I can assure you that it only applies to the city. The countryside is still rural and mostly no different from earth. We have forests with green trees, sandy yellow deserts and even volcanic environments too. Crime has been a bit on the rise lately, so Zenkulon is still far from perfect.
I understand your friendship situation, for I find myself in a similar predicament. The way I see it, you're forced to be surrounded by these people for six years and have to make do with what you are presented with. For some it may work, but for others like you and I, it can be challenging finding where you belong when you don't fit in anywhere or with anyone. There are days where I definitely feel as if I don't belong anywhere. It's days like those where it's a struggle to convince myself to get out of bed and attend a place of 'knowledge' that feels more accustomed to a prison where its guards are dead set on taking away whatever passions you had about any of the subjects you chose. I cannot begin to explain how many of my interests have been extinguished by poor educators who are more capable of reading from a dull, structured lesson plan than actually making learning something engaging and fun.
As you can see, I'm rather passionate about that particular subject. It's disappointing how my only high school experience has been so miserable when I see that so many others are enjoying themselves. I enjoy our communications, it makes me feel at ease that I don't have to experience these things alone, which leads me into your question.
In this regard, our worlds are not that foreign to one another. It sounds to me that our respective education systems are rather alike, unfortunately for the worse. I feel like our understanding of earth is mostly built upon stereotypes and speculation. Is it true that humans despise armed conflicts, yet are so fond of it? To such an extent that it is a staple within certain cultures and mediums of fiction? I find it quite baffling that a species views war as something romantic and glorifiable.
I suppose yes, we would be considered aliens to you, and you to us. How does your culture view extraterrestrial life? On Zenkulon, we know that earth exists, and that earth doesn't know we exist. We think of your planet as our sibling since our origins are mixed. We typically represent humans in a positive light. We know about the negatives, sure, but we know there's more to earth than those who ruin it for the rest. While your kind may see your planet as a dangerous place, and my, after researching known fauna I can confirm that, there are also plenty of good things that humans should focus more on, such as the natural beauty of your environments and what your species have accomplished since its dawn. There are good things about your world. Even if you don't think so, you can always add more colour to your own life if you feel it's lacking.
I'm glad we feel the same way about each other. It's nice to have someone to talk to. To be honest, I feel like you are my only true friend. Don't let the constant negative reinforcement stop you and your passions. You can't let them win.
The sky grew weaker, and soon, a new day began. The repetitive cycle of monotony persevered. It seemed as if it would never end. But it didn't matter. Even though Antonio and Aayani lived far across the galaxy, they could share their struggles together, never having to go through it alone. They could be excluded, dwell on the withering feelings of missing out where so many are having fun, feel as if they mean nothing or have nothing to offer, even have the worst days of their lives, but it did not matter. They had each other.