city market

Amber didn't want to leave the city market. She wished that she could bring her father on the trip with her but she didn't want him to see the deals that she made. He had his pride, of which she was fully aware. It was more pride in the sense that his daughter would and was already on the path to becoming something better than he was. The thought made her heart warm but it was also that same thought that brought a frown upon her face. She didn't think that she was better than anyone. It was nice that she had someone that was proud of her, considering the fact that she wasn't really one to make friends, especially at school. There wasn't anything wrong with living and working in the village but what could she do? It wasn't as though it was her fault or anyone except her grandparents' fault. She looked up at the lights, just barely managing to stop herself before she crashed into someone else walking through the market. Thankfully, neither of them had gotten hurt or dropped anything. In fact, the individual, that was clearly from the city, had offered to by her something to eat. It made Amber question if she looked as poor as she suddenly felt, which she was hoping wasn't true. She couldn't turn down a meal of something from the market. It had always been her dream to have something delicious but she usually didn't get the chance to have anything because she could only purchase things that would last the train ride home and things that she could afford and carry. It was always necessities only after all.

Amber wandered sort of like a butterfly to different stalls, looking for something useful to buy or someone that she could trade with the few things she carried in her messenger bag. It wasn't much that she had to offer, considering winter had just passed and her and her father didn't have much to sell except for a few of the vegetables they were able to grow inside their home, most of which they had to keep to eat. Depending on how the vegetables grew, they could only sell but so much if they wanted to survive until the crops they just recently planted for the spring came in. With those thoughts, she settled on looking for places that sold food that would survive her ride home. They had ways to refrigerate things at home, numerous way to preserve what needed it. She wanted something hot and delicious that she knew her father would like though. She wanted to surprise him with a good meal for dinner. Thinking of a recipe she had learned from some other kids while attending high school, she recalled the ingredients and began to shop and trade what she could for what she needed. She was left with a good amount of money, all the ingredients that she would need, and a few new fabrics and sewing tools. She was looking forward to getting home now. They also had some clothes that needed mending, so this trip was turning out even better that she had hoped.

Regardless of how long it had been since Amber had entered the city, her feet still knew how to carry her to the city market. She always found her way here. When she was younger, she admittedly would sneak on the train to get here. She usually carried something handmade to sell and would leave with enough money for some food and to help with upgrading the equipment her and her father used on the farm back home. They were sweet memories as far as she saw it. There was absolutely nothing bitter about it. She'd accepted their circumstances long ago and didn't feel bitter toward anyone. Well, maybe her grandparents. Who knows how happy her father could've been had he been able to spend the rest of his life with the love of his life? They had ruined it all for him. Maybe her mother was just as miserable. The thought of her distraught parents sent a chill down her spine and made her stomach knot up again. These weren't okay thoughts and she quickly brushed them away, glancing up at the neon lights that faintly illuminated the streets. This was one of her favorite parts. The sun would be going down in a little while and they would light up the path for all the wanderers. It was like walking on a rainbow, like being apart of a completely different world.