Selection day.

Today is my eighteenth birthday. And today, I have the right to choose my own Craft. It is the only day in my life when I may choose to become a farmer like my parents—or choose from the other Crafts. The town of Petani has three Crafts, as decreed by the Council: the Hunter’s Craft, the Fisherfolk’s Craft, and the Farmer’s Craft, which my parents belong to. No one is allowed to intermarry between different Crafts. The Council allows us to choose our Craft on our eighteenth birthday. We may either remain in the Craft of our family or choose a different one.

My parents have always taken great pride in their Craft. Our family has upheld the Farmer’s Craft without interruption for centuries, ever since the Council created it and assigned it to our forefathers. I’ve seen my parents’ expertise as they tilled the land for planting and brought in abundant harvests. The excess crops were stored for future use, while the rest were bartered with the Hunter’s Craft for meat and with the Fisherfolk’s Craft for aquatic dishes. I fear that my choice today may bring disappointment to my family’s legacy.

Ara is from the Hunter’s Craft. I knew she was the one for me the moment we laid eyes on each other. We’ve been inseparable ever since. She taught me about traps, bows and arrows, spears—and how hunting can be exhilarating. Farming, on the other hand, has always felt tedious. You plant, you wait, you harvest—then repeat, season after season. What made it dull was the number of moons we had to wait for the plants to grow and the crops to ripen.

The thought of changing Crafts has been on my mind since the day I met Ara. The idea of becoming a hunter is exciting—and at the same time, overwhelming. I’ve watched how skilled the Hunters are compared to me. They were taught the ways of the forest from the moment they could walk. I, by contrast, am only just beginning to learn. I’ve seen how they move silently through the trees and how they never miss their mark.

Will I be able to adapt to the life of a Hunter? All my life, I was taught to become a farmer and to continue my family’s legacy. I understand how plants grow, the fertilizers needed for strong yields, and how to prepare the soil for each season. These are the skills I was raised with.

But would the change be worth it?

The door opened, and I saw the three Council members glance in my direction. After the pleasantries, I took a deep breath and finally spoke my decision.

Writer’s Note: Please help me fix this story, I’m stuck. 😦