Page 15 - Motherless World Class A G1

Gelia: (raising an eyebrow)
"About what? How you’re part of the problem?"

Javi flinches, but he nods.

Javi:
"Yeah. I’ve been following orders my whole life. The government says jump, I ask how high. But now…
now I don’t know anymore."

Gelia: (bitter, but softer this time)
4
"You know what they say, Javi—‘He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount .’ Once you’re in, there’s
no easy way out.."
Javi:
"You think I don’t know that? I’ve been on the other side of this for so long, I forgot what it was like to
question anything. But meeting you, meeting Abigaile… it’s made me realize how messed up things
are. This world isn’t right."

Gelia looks at him, studying his face for any sign of deception. She sees the sincerity in his eyes but isn’t
ready to trust him completely.

Gelia:
"Why are you telling me this? You think some kind words will fix everything? Will bring back the
people you’ve killed?"
Javi: (voice low, ashamed)
"No. Nothing will bring them back. I know that. But I can try to make things right now."

Gelia: (shaking her head)
"Make things right? You’re just one man, Javi. The government controls everything. They’ve made us
believe we don’t need children anymore, that we don’t need the future. And the people—" (she
gestures around at the empty streets) "—they bought into it. They think eternal youth is all they need.
But look around you. There’s no life here. Just... empty people clinging to something that’s not real."

Javi stares out at the quiet city, his mind racing with everything she’s saying. He knows she’s right. The
people of New-nesia have become hollow, lost in the promise of eternal youth, without realizing what
they’ve sacrificed to get it.

4 Proverbs are short, traditional sayings that express general truths or advice, often culturally specific. In this
story, the proverb “He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount” illustrates the danger of Javi’s position, as he
feels trapped in a situation where each choice has serious consequences.

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