by Colette Rosenhof » Tue May 03, 2016 12:15 am
Colette was more comfortable talking about the things she liked than about herself, but she gave it her best shot.
"Well, like yourself, it is apparent at first glance zat I carry ze X-gene. Zere is no means for me to hide zis, and it is a fact about myself zat I have come to accept. But zat does not mean zat I enjoy it. Have you never wondered why I put so much zought into my clozing? Were I like zem -" she pointed to some of the other people on campus, those without quite so obvious physical signs of their mutations. "- I would probably wear seldom ozer zan a t-shirt and some jeans. But because I look different, I have to do my best to counteract zat negative first impression zat people have when zey first see me. My own roommate asked me if I were a slug. So you have my sympazies and understanding when you say zat even here ze people misjudge you based on your appearance and what you can do, razer zan your character."
Colette's voice was quiet; the girl swallowing before she continued, despite not needing to physically. "Your mozer may have her own motives, selfish ones even, but she also wants to keep you safe. My mozer tried to do ze same for me. She had no reason to protect her reputation, hers was tainted once she married a mutant. But even before I was born zey knew I would be different, zat it would be dangerous and hurtful for me to be placed wiz other children. So until zis autumn, I have spent most of my life in our flat. I was home schooled, and was not allowed to even walk ze streets for fear of my own safety. I was not a prisoner zough, my mozer would work nights so zat she could be home to keep me company during ze day while my fazer was at work. Togezer zey would save zeir money to get me ze zings I needed to be happy, such as my tablet so zat I could talk to ozers my own age. Every spring we would depart on a trip to ze countryside, where I could run around in a big flowery field and enjoy ze sunshine. My poor mozer, she always looked so heartbroken when ze time came to tell me we had to return home; my fazer couldn't bring himself to do it.
"Imagine, Basil. Growing up in France and never having been able to once eat inside of a restaurant, or ride ones bicycle down a winding dirt lane. I had never even seen Paris until undertaking ze ride to ze airport. Do not let yourself be held back by silly rules and selfish vanity for reputation and public image, ze way I was out of necessity."