13-Apr-2000
An Iria Winner Story
You really didn't know who I was at first, neh, Quatre, I thought. I'm not surprised. I was one of many of your sisters and I was rarely at the house. After all, I went off to another colony to do my studies, then my internship. With so many people looking after you, it would be easy to forget me.
"Iria, I'm so glad to see you," he said, smiling.
"Yes, it's good to see you, too." He looks so much like his mother, blonde, and sweet. But like her, they were both stubborn and insisted on doing what they wanted... no, needed to do. "Especially after you ran off with the Manganacs and started fighting. I didn't know what was happening to you."
He looked sad. "It's the only way things will change. I didn't want this to happen. Father still... "
"You know how he is better than I do. He's still upset about your decision." Yes, he should know father better. After all, he was the heir. He received more attention. You would think I would be jealous, but I was not. The relationship between a father and son is often much rockier than the one between a father and daughter. A father looks at his daughter and sees someone who is different from himself. While he may be very protective, he probably doesn't see her doing the same things that he would do. This allowed me to become the doctor I always wanted to be rather than being forced into being a businesswoman.
A son, on the other hand, is someone to be molded into your own image. Someone who has to carry out the family traditions and do what he tells you. A father is often rougher on his son because he expects more and because he thinks that the son needs more "guidance." Boys tend to act out more, especially around Quatre's age. It is no surprise that they feel frustrated and angry with each other right now.
"Iria, I'm worried about father. He keeps speaking his mind and getting people angry, but he refuses to protect himself. I just don't see how he can do that."
"You know he's a pacifist and that's why he didn't want you to pilot."
"But he should always protect himself because there's so many people who depend on him and care about him. You can't... "
"He's stubborn, Quatre. He always has been."
Quatre looked out the window. I also look out and we see the protests against our father. It pains me, but it seems to pain Quatre more. I can see through Quatre's eyes how much he craves his father's love, how much he desires his approval, how much he fears for his safety. I can almost hear all the things that he wants to say:
I love you.
I hate you.
You don't care.
I've missed you.
I, too, want to say those things.
The End
(:./mk/many)
