Their Obsession Rose

I am greeted by the familiar smell of coffee as I open my eyes. The rich, earthy scent swirling around me like a comforting blanket is the kind of smell that always reminds me of home. Today though, the air seems a little heavier, more electric,charged with something I can't quite place. Today marks the start of my adult life. Yeah, you guessed it. Today is my eighteenth birthday, the one every girl in Kadar has been waiting for since she could talk. It's the day I'm introduced to the village, the day the rest of my life begins. No pressure,right? But for our community, it's more than just a milestone. My birthday isn't simply about me-no, today marks the beginning of something far, far bigger. Today, I'll meet all the eligible suitors from around the village, the ones my parents have been whispering about for months, their names rolling off their tongues with careful deliberation. The ones my friends have been me teasing about, gossiping in hushed tones whenever I pass by, for the moment when I will take my first step toward becoming something more than just me-toward becoming someone's. It's all part of tradition, this 'matchmaking ' ceremony that has been passed down for many generations, a ritual as old as the village itself. A rite of passage, they call it. A chance for me to step into the role that's been waiting for me since the day I was born. At the end of the day, I'll be expected to choose.Choose a partner, choose my place in the world, choose the life I'll lead. The weight of those choices pressed down on me, like the pressure of the ocean's depths. Surely it can't be that bad, right? Surely, it's just a formality- a tradition that's always been followed without question. Yet, despite the familiar comfort of the routine, something in the air feels different this year. The sense of anticipation swirling around me, rising like a tide, makes my beat just a little faster. There's a strange, inexplicable pull in the pit of my stomach, as if the ceremony will be something more than what I've been told all my life. Something more than just picking a partner and settling into the life everyone has always expected of me. I can't shake the feeling that today won't be just another ritual to cross off the list of my childhood.No. This will be the day. The day when everything changes. The thought makes my skin prickle with anticipation-and maybe, just a little bit of dread. I don't know why, but deep down, I feel like I'm standing on the edge of something I've never imagined and I wonder if I'm ready to take the first step. I jump out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cold wooden floor with a sharp jolt, the chill instantly seeping through my skin. Somehow the sudden coolness doesn't bother me; in fact it feels refreshing, a quiet reminder that the day has just begun. I stretch, my muscles waking up and make my way to the window, tugging open the heavy white lacy curtains. The moment the fabric parts the sunlight pours into the room like liquid gold,spilling across the floor in soft pools of warmth. The golden light cascades over the room, chasing away lingering coolness of the night air and bathing everyone in a gentle glow. The walls of the room are warm, muted shade of pale yellow, their soft colour reflecting the sunlight in a way that makes the space feel cozy and inviting. The bed,large and covered in a quilt of mismatched blankets,sits in the centre of the room. It's still a bit rumpled from my restless night, the covers twisted in a tangled heaped. The air smells faintly of lavender and wood smoke with just a hint of the earthiness that comes from the open window that overlooks the quiet village. The sunlight dances across the wooden floorboards, making the dust motes float in the air like tiny, glowing stars. There is an old carved wooden chair near the corner with a small embroidered cushion and my vanity sits against the far wall, the mirror framed in dark oak,reflecting the warm rays. The room feels lived-in, like every inch of it tells a story-my story. I take a slow breath, watching the light fill the space, feeling a rare sense of peace settle over me. In the background I hear the familiar hymn father always hums, a melody that I have grown up with, a melody that soothes my worries away. I've never been this late, but today feels different. Today I'm not rushing. I'm going to take things at my own pace, let the day unfold however it wants. For once, there's no agenda, no frantic hurry to check off a list of things to do. The world outside is waking up at its own pace and so am I. I let my fingers trace the window sill, feeling the cool stone beneath my touch as the soft sounds of the village drifting up from below reach my ears-the laughter of children, the murmur of voices, the click of metal as the blacksmith begins his work for the day.I lean my head out of the window and I take a breath of intoxicating fresh air as I feel the breeze brushing my skin and for the first time time in what feels like forever, I don't feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. I feel free... I feel safe... I feel loved... Today is mine.