It never came back (or did it?)

Anna pulled her daughter off the street, around the nearest corner "hush, don’t talk like that, Cela! Let’s keep moving. What if someone heard you? They could take you away from us, put you in jail or worse -"

"Who and what’s worse than jail, mama?" Cela’s innocent eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked up at her mother. Anna pretended to look for something in her purse, trying to hide her worried look. I HAVE to convince Cela that she has to be more careful when being around other people, I have to -

Cela pulled on her mom's coat impatiently waiting for an answer "Mama? What’s worse?"

No use, I will have to tell her, but, no, she is too young to understand -

Mama, please, what is it?" Cela shook her blond braids in anticipation.

I will just have to lie to her like so many times before but - NO, I will not lie anymore! Anna sighed, let go of her purse and kneeled down. She grabbed Cela’s hands, pulled her into her lap and started whispering.

"Cela, please listen carefully. This is what my mama told me when I was only a little older than you are now." Cela’s eyes seemed to grow even bigger, hardly ever anyone talked about other family members. "Many, many years ago when you or even I weren't born yet there was - an incident. One that caused a big change. It all happened very fast and so quietly nobody noticed at first. And then it was too late."

"What was it, mama?" Interjected Cela all excitedly squirming in Anna’s lap.

"Shh, please listen, Cela, till I’m finished. Then you may ask questions". Anna ignored Cela’s disappointment and continued.

"The old government was overthrown violently and a new King claimed the crown. When people realized what was happening many started to cry out in protest. They demonstrated against the new King, some started to fight the new government covertly, some even openly. You have to know that unlike now firearms were a common thing to have at home. But the new King’s guard was too strong and too well trained, quite possibly more than just trained. Well, as we know now, they were definitely also manipulated."

"What is ‘maaa-nipppu-lated’?"

This time Anna answered patiently “it is when someone makes you do something without you realizing that it wasn’t your own idea to do so. Like, when I tell you that papa doesn’t like seeing your face all dirty, it’ll make you run to wash your face faster than if I had asked you to wash up before dinner, right? You understand that?" The spark of understanding that lit up Cela’s eyes paired with just the slightest hint of a grimace was enough of an answer.

"Alright then, where was I? Aah, yes, after a long fourteen years of civil war any opposition was either eradicated or re-educated."

Cela opened her mouth to voice another burning question but Anna raised her hand and voice just a little "hold on to that question, I know what you’re going to ask and I am getting there. Please be patient, Cela."

"Okay, mama" mumbled Cela almost inaudibly.

"During the violent demonstrations and fights the new King’s men imprisoned so many of the opposition. In the end, the few that had escaped capture moved far, far away and lived in isolation, nobody knows exactly where. Or how. Very few stayed with their families and tried to adapt to the new life. Our family stayed and we learned to live hiding - our true nature."

"But, mama, you haven’t told me yet what’s worse than jail? And, what is re-education?"

"Alright then, Cela, you are very young, you might not fully understand." Anna paused trying to come up with a way to explain it. "Imagine being taken away from papa and me and put into jail. For a specific time we’d be separated and alone but we could still see each other every now and then and exchange letters, right?" Cela nodded enthusiastically.

"Re-education" Anna continued "is when you’d be separated from us but unlike jail we would not be allowed to exchange letters let alone visit you. We would not be able to speak to or see you at all, Cela, and who knows for how long? There is no certain timing with re-education!"

Anna lowered her whisper even further and added with a heavy sigh "and who knows what they are doing to the people forced to undergo re-education training? I have heard stories that after months and even years of this training people were no longer themselves, or went crazy." Anna now whispered so quietly that Cela could barely hear her. "And some didn’t return home at all".

By now Cela sat very still. She swallowed, trying to grasp her mother's words. Her little hands clamped into fists pressed against her mouth, she looked at her mother and silently cried "but - that’s not fair that is…!"

"Shhh, shhh, Cela, I know it isn’t, but - shh, people might still hear us. Come on now, let’s go home to papa".

Anna hugged Cela tight and stroked her hair. "I hope you now understand why I couldn’t help that poor woman crying in the street seeing her son being carried away by the new King’s men. I had to protect you and our own family. We need to keep silent -"

Cela interrupted her again "but - that’s not right, mama" "

No, it isn’t right, Cela" Anna said, getting up to her feet holding on to Cela "Maybe one day it will be different but, for now, it is the law and we'll be fine as long as we conform to the law. And that means no public display of emotion".

Snap - the book, her old journal shut and Cela looked up at her audience. People of all ages and genders had gathered in the city square. Everyone was very quiet, you could hear a needle drop. Then someone started clapping. More and more followed, clapping, laughing and cheering. It went on for a full five minutes before it slowly got quiet again.

"Thank you, my friends" Cela smiled, sticking a strand of gray hair behind her ear "today, finally, it is that day my mama spoke of so many years ago when she ignited the spark in me to fight for what is right. Today is the day!” she exclaimed, raising her fist into the air. Promptly cheering started again.

“All those years ago a stranger’s tragedy and the injustice all around us directed my life to where we are now. It took us many years and lives and at times I thought we would never get it back." She had to raise her voice to be heard over all the clapping and cheering. Cela paused “and now look at us - look at all our emotions displayed in public! No-one, NO-ONE will ever take that away from us again!”

Cheers were growing louder, the crowd started stirring. “We are but few of many across the country. We are united. We will no longer be silenced - the new King is dead, long live empathy and emotion! Let’s move to the palace!”

Well, quite obviously I meandered a little away from the prompt "It never came back" by @alonicus and the Worldbuilding community @worldbuilding.

I had wanted the topic to be "suppressed feelings" (like Vulcans) or "publicly displayed emotions" that never came back again. But I had to have them come back because it would have been too bleak otherwise. We are human after all.

And now I feel like there is a whole story that could be spun around Cela's life from being an innocent child to the freedom fighter who brings back the right to smile and be happy in public.

As usual with my ramblings I have no idea where this all came from but here it is.

Thanks for reading!

Till next time!

Have a great rest of your day!

Cheers,
(Ocean)Bee