Chako saw Rhela's exasperated reaction silently. It was obviously something that caused her worry, and Chako could understand that... There's a reason why she didn't tell her mom about Terrasphere.
... But she also had no plans of stopping. It was easy to simply reply to Rhela's worries with 'legs', but she felt like a better reply was in order.
So, she looked up into the sky, and started, "You know... When I was young, I remember telling dad that I wanted to learn ballet.
"Dad stroke my hair, and said that, as soon as the doctors figured out a way to make my legs work, he would take me to some ballet classes, and he would watch every single one of them." Chako looked at Rhela with a troubled smile, "Well, dad has already passed away, and I have yet to move a single toe. Never mind my legs."
She took a small pause, then continued, "Also... I met a woman the other day. Here, in Arcia... She was almost completely deaf back on Earth, but here she could hear just fine.
"She never tried to learn how to speak though. She didn't find much use for that when she could just use telepathy... Can't say I get the logic behind it, but I can imagine how happy she was when she arrived at Arcia and found out how much more she could hear here than she could back on Earth." Chako took a deep breath, "But what I don't get is why people like me and her aren't the majority in here. Even before I found out about the death game thing, I still knew this was a highly illegal game that the government tried its best to erase every information about it from existence.
"Why would anyone play this? I naturally thought... It would have to be someone who is really desperately looking for something. Something they can't find on Earth no matter how hard we try...
"For most people, this is apparently just the thrill created by a highly realistic VR environment. it seems... But for me, it's this dream come true. Where I can actually walk, jump and dance to my heart's content."
Chako took another pause. Trying to think her next words carefully... She really didn't want to be on the receiving end of too much pity. She received that too often, "I understand the risks... And it is quite terrifying... Not just for me, but for mom too. I know she has tried her best to appear strong in front of me, but I know how hurt she has been from dad's loss... I don't want her to lose me too.
"But I just can't stop, you know...? It's just too hard to give up on your dream once you've achieved it... So many years... So many hoping, praying, begging doctors to find out a way to make my legs work... All that solved by putting on a single VR headset. I just... I just can't give up on that."
It was a bit weird to do this to someone who was surely much older than her, but... Chako stroke Rhela's hair with her hand, "You don't need to stay here if you don't want to... But I seriously doubt your parents would ever be disappointed on you just because you chose the wrong game to play. I know my mom wouldn't, at least." Chako smiled.
@Rhela Elahka
... But she also had no plans of stopping. It was easy to simply reply to Rhela's worries with 'legs', but she felt like a better reply was in order.
So, she looked up into the sky, and started, "You know... When I was young, I remember telling dad that I wanted to learn ballet.
"Dad stroke my hair, and said that, as soon as the doctors figured out a way to make my legs work, he would take me to some ballet classes, and he would watch every single one of them." Chako looked at Rhela with a troubled smile, "Well, dad has already passed away, and I have yet to move a single toe. Never mind my legs."
She took a small pause, then continued, "Also... I met a woman the other day. Here, in Arcia... She was almost completely deaf back on Earth, but here she could hear just fine.
"She never tried to learn how to speak though. She didn't find much use for that when she could just use telepathy... Can't say I get the logic behind it, but I can imagine how happy she was when she arrived at Arcia and found out how much more she could hear here than she could back on Earth." Chako took a deep breath, "But what I don't get is why people like me and her aren't the majority in here. Even before I found out about the death game thing, I still knew this was a highly illegal game that the government tried its best to erase every information about it from existence.
"Why would anyone play this? I naturally thought... It would have to be someone who is really desperately looking for something. Something they can't find on Earth no matter how hard we try...
"For most people, this is apparently just the thrill created by a highly realistic VR environment. it seems... But for me, it's this dream come true. Where I can actually walk, jump and dance to my heart's content."
Chako took another pause. Trying to think her next words carefully... She really didn't want to be on the receiving end of too much pity. She received that too often, "I understand the risks... And it is quite terrifying... Not just for me, but for mom too. I know she has tried her best to appear strong in front of me, but I know how hurt she has been from dad's loss... I don't want her to lose me too.
"But I just can't stop, you know...? It's just too hard to give up on your dream once you've achieved it... So many years... So many hoping, praying, begging doctors to find out a way to make my legs work... All that solved by putting on a single VR headset. I just... I just can't give up on that."
It was a bit weird to do this to someone who was surely much older than her, but... Chako stroke Rhela's hair with her hand, "You don't need to stay here if you don't want to... But I seriously doubt your parents would ever be disappointed on you just because you chose the wrong game to play. I know my mom wouldn't, at least." Chako smiled.
@Rhela Elahka
