Clouds of smokes lazily emerge from the cigarette. The peaceful ascend is interrupted by the movement of a hand which gently places the cigarette on a crimson red lip. I roll my eyes and let out a deep sigh. Hiding behind the school just to get a chance for a smoke break is starting to begin tiring. Not to mention that my outrageous style would make any adult shake their head. I slowly avert my gaze towards the watch on my tiny wrist and let out another frustrated sigh. Didn’t know that these peaceful breaks feel like a second and the upcoming class is going to feel like an eternity of sheer boredom. I manage to force my legs to move towards the main building. While walking to my evening class, I wipe the makeup from my face revealing a blank canvas underneath it. The usual pretty face is wrinkled from the frustration of having to go to class. If I was to describe myself, I would say that I am a torn in today’s society. I honestly can’t believe that I was born into this cluster of a country that is ruled by the hammer and sickle. Especially when I could have lived in America and live freely as I would like. As I was approaching the main building a long shadow blocked my view of the dying sun as it is soon going to be dusk. I slowly raise my gaze and my mind screams when I see the person in front of me. My mind immediately goes back to my first year of university when I happen to come across this annoying muppet. Well, I am a bit harsh when it comes to my opinion about him. In actual reality, he is a tall young male with golden hair that frames his strong jaw and a pair of blue eyes. His polished looks that would make any woman blush upon his gaze are just a deceiving book cover. From the stories I have heard he is a cunning manipulative slimy piece of a tool that lacks any sort of empathy. These traits come hand in hand with his natural charisma, so he has almost everyone wrapped around his finger. You see I am rather an underdog, mainly because I am a thorn in this society and not a rose like him.
He stood quietly on the stairs that led up to the main door, cutting off my way of hiding myself in the building. His cold gaze felt as if it was trying to stealthily pierce my heart. His eyes are sharp as glass and have a dark outline around them. As strange as it is, I noticed his dark circles before. Anytime he would walk around, his perfect facade that he always tried to achieve would be shattered because of these little glimpses of a tired human soul underneath the cold exterior. He opened his mouth: "Have you changed your opinion, little dove?". It was then when I found him truly terrifying. His words brought such piece to my soul. They had a dangerous sweetness and that's exactly why he was terrifying. It is almost like I'm a dragonfly freely flying through the spring breeze and suddenly beams of sunlight reflecting from the little droplets turn into a spider web. And behind the flower that peacefully grows next to the web, a terrifying shadow emerges. Regaining back my consciousness, I tear down the built-up sweet veil around me and I ran for my life. Suddenly a sharp pain electrifies my leg as he was fast enough to make a blow. I swiftly turn around and in an attempt of self-defence I retaliate. His formerly- clean hair becomes messy from my blow. However, a tiny little bird has no chance against a lion like him. He gets ecstatic when he sees his power over his prey.
I knew this moment would come eventually. I was mentally prepared for it since my first encounter with him. Who would know that having a different opinion can get you in this much trouble? But then again, the masses have been too loud and thus the StB was born. The secret police of the communist Czechoslovakia. Their sole goal is to eradicate any opposition. Recently they have been recruiting students as well so they can blend into the society without a trace. I managed to escape his grasp before by doing some little dirty jobs for him, but I guess he lost his temper. It is truly quite sad what this country has come to. Not that it was better in the past considering out history. Suddenly I hear voices slowly approaching the faculty building and therefore us two too. I let out an annoyed sigh and even though Joseph is firmly holding my arm I manage to take out a pair of cigarettes out of my pocket. I place my eyes on his suspicious face and offer him one. “I suppose you would like to avoid any attention, right?” It takes him a second to think about his next move but eventually the weight of the cigarette leaves my hand as he takes it. We both light our cigarettes and rest our backs against the wall. He leans a bit close to me so it looks like we are friends, it would be weird if we stood ten meters away from each other after all. The small crowd of students pass by, not giving much attention to a pair of delinquents. Nobody wants to get in trouble. Neither me, but I guess I couldn’t avoid it. As the door closes after the last student, Joseph looks at me with a blank expression. I wonder what he is thinking. “You caught me off guard there” he finally shares his thoughts. His violent nature and previously bad deeds lifted from him like a bad spell. Maybe he realized this entire situation is actually pretty silly? Why should I be punished for liking the western lifestyle which offers freedom. Sure, you can keep a lion in a ZOO. It is well fed and has everything it needs. But it does not have its freedom. A lion in the wild will be always happier than a lion kept in a small crammed cage. I was about to take another smoke from my cigarette when his hand grabs mine. Confused I look at his tall figure that was once again shrouded in darkness. “All the oppression needs to be taken care off.” He says softly as if he was telling me a lullaby and starts dragging me away from the school. For a second I thought I would start screaming for help, but then I realized that nobody would come. It is pretty late anyways so he can’t take me to their office just yet too. At that moment, I’ve decided that before my trial I will try to talk to Joseph. “Okay, I will come with you but hey at least give me a chance to talk?” I ask him carefully, not knowing what to expect. Joseph angrily looks at my small figure and when I thought he was about to strike me for my insolence, he shakes his head. “I won’t promise you anything, just shut up and follow me.” He hides his eyes under his blonde hair trying to avoid eye contact with me. A smile appears on my face, I must have moved him a little bit. We are both young people trapped in this unfortunate country, so to a certain degree he must feel some sympathy? We will see.