The Ritual

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At sunrise the ritual will begin again

I will be awakened at first light

I will scrape the impurities from my skin

Wrap myself with the ceremonial garments

I must ingest the foul tonic

A moment to embrace my family

Craft my farewells

Then I start the journey to the village square

I will meet with the elders

I will be questioned

Guided

Tested

They will judge me

If I am deemed worthy, the ritual will repeat

If not, if the elders disapprove

I will be banished

To live a life outside

Where resources are scarce

Where I may starve, or worse

With fortune I have pleased the elders so far

I have lasted longer than most

Every day I fear may be my last

I must continue passing the tests

I must continue winning their favor

My life depends on repeating the ritual.

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