When the Emperor Was Divine (#2)

Who had more difficulty returning home after life in the containment camp - the children or the parents?

Both the adults and children arrived home to a scene of disappointment and felt a great deal of unwelcoming vibes from their community. After living in a containment camp for such a significant amount of time, they were anxious to return home and attempt to pick up where they had left off. They were once again a family with the father now back in their lives and they were ready to begin their work and school routines. I don't think they were entirely prepared for what they ultimately came home to. I believe they were aware enough to know that it would take some time to socially adjust, however, I don't think they quite anticipated the change they actually encountered. The parents were probably more devastated than the children. Being that the kids are still very young, they don't entirely understand the situation. The daughter has a better idea of the family's circumstances, but the son is still too young to have a solid understanding of the whole ordeal. I believe the parents had more difficulty returning home than the children. After years of working so hard to obtain a successful life, they were now back at the start. Their home was run down and inhabited by unwelcomed guests, society was very hateful toward their culture and life really was at an all time low for the parents. The things they dreamed of coming home to weren't there. All they wanted was to return home as a family and have their own space again. However, there home situation made them feel like they had never really left the containment camp. Overall, I do think the parents had more difficulty returning home than the children. Though I do believe the kids were very upset in their own way. Children handle situations very differently than adults. They have very simple perspectives and are naive for the most part. I don't think the kids quite knew what they had lost, but nonetheless they were aware that they weren't in the home they once lived in. Time had taken a toll on their home and community as well as on themselves.