❋

everyone knew the rules, fit in with everyone else. everyone is made to be equal and that's just how it works. you wear the same clothing, a mask, a puffy jacket so nobody can see your body. you wear unflattering shoes, everyone does. this way nobody will get jealous because someone else has nicer shoes. everything costs the same, and nobody has a valid opinion. if someone says the wrong answer, its right. if you are athletic, you wear weights to slow you down. this way, you stay at the same skill level as everyone else. and if you dare break these rules, you are known as a "snowflake."

nobody wants to be a snowflake.

❋

it was a normal day for the dark-haired boy. he folded his baggy clothes from the night before into a neat pile on his plain grey bed. his grey eyes looked tired. he looked tired and bored. it was normal, though. he slipped on his grey clothes for school today, not forgetting to slip on his grey shoes and pick up his grey mask that seemed to resemble a bunny. it covered his nose, his forehead, and the ears were long and went past his head. all you could see was his heavy, large frown, and his dull grey eyes, peeking through, longing to see in color.

but that's normal.

...

he grabbed his grey backpack, the one everyone had. he did not want to go to school today; something in his mind wanted him to forget about his schedule, but the lurking fear of being different, being a snowflake. it made his blood run cold. he shook off these different thoughts and continued the regular procedures for his everyday life.

❋

the bus ride did not differ from the rest. the same grey cars drove by, the students sat upright, each not speaking a single word. the same people walked across the same sidewalks. the same grey birds flew across the sky in the same effortless motions. the same grey clouds forecasted the same rainy days. the same downcast mood everyone seemed to be okay with feeling on a daily basis. they were okay with it because if not,

they might just be killed right then and there because,

nobody wanted anybody to be a snowflake.

❋

"okay class, today we are learning about the history of korea." the teacher, a woman who had a monotone voice. she proudly wore a grey mask that hid her aging face. it was of an owl, a majestic owl mask that hid her features. nobody wanted to see anyone one else here. 

the dark-haired boy wanted to scream because he had heard this exact same lesson every single day that he had attended school. he was never absent. one would never ever, ever miss a day of school. why, education is important in this society.

the boy unfocused from his studies, turning slightly to his left. not too dramatically, since it would be a shame if he were to be caught. he noticed one of his classmates he did not know the name of. he knew none of his classmates. nobody was allowed to share their names, it would be unfair. what if one had a better name than the other?

he had weights on his arms, and shackles on his ankles. his eyes were grey, puffy and red around the edges. that scared the dark-haired boy. his grey baggy shirt was torn, his mask was missing an ear. the dark-haired boy almost flinched in his seat. in front of him, behold;

a snowflake
in the flesh.

❋