#spaceages

The Star Shapelings are so interesting to me! I can't stop thinking about them sometimes.

Imagine going your whole life being told you're someone great and special. You're given every chance to develop your talents and chase your dreams.

But none of it can ever be *just* yours. Everything you do is under watch. Everything you do is judged. Everything thing you make needs to be shared with the world.

And you strive for one goal. For one golden chance to be the face of your generation. Competing against everyone else that was told they were special.

And it might be the only time in your life you're faced with someone who might actually better than you in the thing you've done your whole life.

And only one can win. Only one can win.

And if you do, you're set for life. But you'll be watched even more closely than ever before. Every move you make under scrutiny.

And if you don't? You fade into obscurity. You're drowned out by the new stars that join the stage.

Howard and Starlet won their competitions, though it cost them any shred of privacy or humanity they thought they could keep.

Gladdie didn't, but she spends the rest of her life wishing she did