A Dystopia Without Creativity

“Stop sighing, it’s not gonna help in any way!” Yeva hissed.

Lidiya sighed again, her eyes looking dreamy as ever, popping another Cheeto in her mouth and wiping the smallest amount of cheesy dust on her fingers with a paper napkin. “I wonder how people can let their fingers be covered in this disgusting stuff and be happy eating this-”

“Apparently, no one eats Cheetos for lunch everyday like you do.” Yeva glanced at the wrinkled clothes in the corner, contemplating whether she should dry them on a hanger or leave them.

Lidiya nodded, “Stupid world, stupid society, stupid humans.” 

“Stupid money.” Yeva muttered under her breath.

Lidiya hummed, still aloof, “We’re the stupid ones.” She sighed again, “Why did we think following our dreams would lead us to somewhere bright?”

They’d talked about this too many times. Regretted it. Cried about it so much that there were no more tears left. 

“Whatever.” It was Yeva’s turn to sigh now.

It was a world of technology and money. Yeva and Lidiya lived in books. In stories printed in the past, forgotten, for no one read anymore. No one dared to imagine, afraid it might interest them, distract them from their numbers and codes.

Yeva could never fit the mould, no matter how much she tried. Life would have no purpose if Lidiya didn’t daydream.

“Be back by dinner. I need to find another part time job.” Yeva grabbed her jacket.

“Can I tag along?”

“No.”

Lidiya ignored her and put on her shoes.

They locked their lurky room and went out, glancing at the gloomy weather.

Yeva walked a bit faster. “I lied. I came for a walk.”

“I know.”

They had tried their best to hide the fact they’re not like the rest of the people but the news broke out anyway. People looked at them with pitiful stares, as if they were beggars.

They strolled beside a lake, straining their neck to have a look of what lay ahead.

Lidiya huffed, having trouble keeping up with Yeva’s pace, “I need to tell you something.”

Yeva furrowed her brows, “This isn’t about you burning my clothes with your candles and incense sticks again, is it?

Lidiya shook her head, her face dimming. “I’m going to quit writing. And literature in general.”

Yeva stopped walking. Lidiya was her last hope. She possibly couldn’t quit literature for engineering, right?”

“I have no choice.” Lidiya’s dreamy eyes turned hazy, and she bowed her head, trying not to let tears form.

Yeva walked a bit faster, stone faced.

“Yeva, wait! Please.” Lidiya had to run to catch up.

She tripped on a stone, making both herself and Yeva fall.

“Just leave me alone!” Yeva sobbed, her face red with anger.

She sat down, looking at the tangled bush where her leg got stuck. 

“Yeva…” Lidiya pointed in the opposite direction, agape. 

An old house-like structure stood in front of them. But what astonished them the most was the sign outside it.

“You know what… nevermind what I said. There’s still hope.” Lidiya whispered.

‘Library’.

The weather got a bit more sunny than usual.

⊱ ━━━━.⋅ εïз ⋅.━━━━ ⊰

“Yeva.” Lidiya whispered, glaring at Yeva, while trying to maintain a gentle smile in front of the lady furiously staring at the pages of a copy of Kafka on the Shore.

Yeva got the hint and rushed towards the man entering the library in wonder, assisting him with the place.

There were a few people in the library, but the number was gradually increasing day by day.

“It’s happening.” Yeva grinned.

Lidiya maintained a smile, “I know.”

They sat down at the counter, sighing, but this time, with relief.