It's so annoying. I was arranged to get engaged while I was still in school.
840 Words
Back in the classroom, my mood was like the sea surface ravaged by a storm, and I couldn't calm down for a long time. The engagement that weighed heavily on my heart like a huge rock was like an lingering haze, making me think a lot, and I couldn't get rid of it.
I dragged my legs that seemed to be filled with lead and slowly walked to my seat. Every step seemed to be particularly heavy, as if every step was a difficult struggle with fate. The ground under my feet seemed to have turned into a muddy swamp, making it difficult for me to walk.
After sitting down, I tried desperately to concentrate on the class, but my mind kept showing my mother's serious face and the shocking news of the engagement like an uncontrolled projector. My mother's face was tense, and her eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness, and the news of the engagement was like a bolt from the blue, catching me off guard. I began to worry about my future. Do I really have to give up my studies at this age and enter a marriage that is not my wish? In this village where women are superior to men, marriage often means women's dominance and men's obedience, but I don't want to be at the mercy of fate. I am unwilling to accept this. Studying is the only way for me to change my fate. I don't want to give up so easily. I am eager to get out of this closed village through knowledge and pursue my own freedom and dreams.
At this time, I noticed that my classmates seemed to be whispering. Although their voices were small, they were particularly clear in this quiet classroom, like a thin needle, piercing my eardrum. I couldn't help but wonder, are they talking about me? Maybe they already know that I am about to get engaged. In this small village, news always spreads quickly, like the wind, penetrating everywhere. An inexplicable embarrassment and uneasiness surged in my heart, as if I had become the focus of everyone's attention, and this focus was accompanied by a hint of helplessness and sadness. I felt like I was trapped in an invisible cage, unable to break free from the shackles of fate.
I secretly observed the classmates around me. Some girls gathered together, glanced at me from time to time, and then quickly lowered their heads to continue talking. There seemed to be a hint of curiosity and pity in their expressions. The reactions of the boys were different. Some showed sympathy, as if they could understand my predicament at the moment; others seemed a little indifferent. Perhaps in their eyes, this was the most common thing. After all, in this village where women are superior to men, this is often the fate of men.
I slowly fell into memories, thinking of the precious time I had spent with my classmates. In that bright classroom, we sat together, like warriors exploring the unknown world, discussing problems enthusiastically. Whenever we encountered a difficult problem, we would concentrate, frowning, and racking our brains to solve it. We expressed our opinions, and the sparks of thought collided in the air, which was the burning desire for knowledge. We roamed in the sea of books together and searched for the traces of truth in the hall of wisdom.
During the break, we were like ponies running away, playing and frolicking together. We ran and chased on the playground, laughter echoed in the air, and enjoyed that short but extremely happy time. We shared each other's little secrets and confided our troubles to each other. That was the purest friendship in our youth.
Now, all these beautiful memories are shrouded by the shadow of engagement. The heavy shadow is like a dark cloud, pressing me to breathe. I felt extremely lost, as if I was in a dark wilderness, with no glimmer of hope. I didn't know how long I could study with my classmates, and how long this happy time could last. Those once familiar classrooms and playgrounds have become so unfamiliar now, as if they would leave me at any time.
Those whispering voices seemed to be constantly reminding me that my fate was about to change. The subtle voices were like ants gnawing at my heart, making me irritable and uneasy. I tried to ignore them, trying to concentrate on listening and focusing on the teacher's explanation. But those voices were like a spell, constantly echoing in my ears and lingering. They disturbed my thoughts and made me unable to calm down. I began to doubt my choice. Maybe I should listen to my mother's arrangement, get married early, and live a stable life. After all, in this village where women are superior to men, this seems to be the fate of most people. I imagined myself wearing a wedding dress, entering the palace of marriage, and living an ordinary life. But is this kind of life really what I want?
- Writer
