[ IP ] The Sheltered City


 *The boy took a step closer to the edge of the precipice. * 
 It was an odd feeling that he felt, being so close to the boundary that separated the two distinct, yet similar worlds. The world below him was the one that he had always known, an unchanging city enthralled by an archaic culture that above all else feared change. He had been born into that world and had no choice but to live his life the way The Others had planned for him. Of course, The Others had all cared for him deeply and only wanted him to succeed. But, the boy had never felt happy with these plans. He had always felt detached from the ideas and values that The Others had thrown upon him. Life soon began to become a struggle for the young boy as he grappled with The Others' preconceived plans of success and his own ideas of life as he knew it. 
 *The boy took another step towards the edge. Small pebbles shifted and then skittered down the edge. * 
 No, the boy was never happy and the meaning of his life became murky and disillusioned. But one day, the boy simply looked up. It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling to look up. All through his life he had been spoken down to and told what to do. He had never thought to move his eyes from the goals that were set for him by The Others. The boy did not know what to make of what was up above, but it gave him a warm feeling of hope that he had not felt before. He saw bright outlines of buildings and streets. He could almost hear a busy street bustling with excitement, individuality, and creativity. The boy could not believe his eyes. He went to one of The Others, a female who was older and made most of the decisions on the goals he would accomplish, and asked what was up above. For only a moment The Other's eyes grew wide and her lips pursed without response. She quickly regained her composure and told the boy to stop daydreaming and worry about finishing his work so that he would be prepared for tomorrow's exam. 
 *The boy brought both feet together to rest on the edge of the cliff. He looked up. * 
 The boy could only concentrate on what was above. The Other's reaction to what was above intrigued him. He left his room and wandered through the streets of the city, unsure of where he was going. He looked up again and saw a massive cliff jutting out against the organized footprint of the city below. He had never noticed this cliff before. He suddenly became aware of his legs taking him toward the cliff, as if some unknown force was driving him towards something bigger than himself. The climbed to the top of the cliff and looked down. The city that he had known was dark and eerie. Smog billowed from the smokestacks of the factories on the edge of the city and filled the city streets. He could smell the heaviness of the smog singe his nostrils from where he was perched on the cliff far above the city below. Harsh noises penetrated the boy's ears with a violence that he had not noticed when he was trapped in the confines of his home. 
 *The boy took a deep breath. * 
 The boy looked up again. This time he could see the city above more clearly. The radiance from the city above sparkled in his eyes and suddenly he felt a sense of clarity wash over his tired body and soul. His eye caught a twinkling light not far from where he was standing. He could almost reach out and touch it. He knew that if he could reach it he would be saved from the city below and start a new life in the city above. But his heart suddenly sank into his stomach as he realized that if he missed the light, he find himself hurtling back towards the smog covered streets of the city below. His heart was racing. I ca n't go back. 
 *The boy jumped. * 
 
 EDITED for format stuff
