1

Cora

I find myself standing in front of a man whose face I can't see but I feel that I should fear him. I am standing with the rest of the women for the reaping knowing that I am going to be picked by this man who is scaring me. I hear a voice say my name and I know it's over for me. Any chance of me going back home to my village is gone. All hope of having a happy life is destroyed as soon as I see the devious smirk on his face.

I feel myself begin to shake and I hear a scream rip from my mouth as I feel the hands of the guards begin to pull me away. I kick and scream begging for someone to help me, but no one moves. All eyes are on the ground and I feel my heart shatter as I see Michael look away.

I startle awake with sweat covering my face. I still feel myself shaking and I feel like there is nothing that will calm me down. Then the realization that it was a dream hits me full force and I fall back on my pillow trying to slow my breathing down. What made me have that dream? I never have nightmares, and my dreams never seem that real.

Then it hits me. I turn eighteen today, meaning that when the reaping happens next week I will be going and the chances are that I will not be coming back here. This is the only home that I have ever known. My grandparents survived the sickness that took most of the world when they were in their teens. They were lucky enough to make it and to fall in love and be together before the craziness of the reaping started.

My father chose my mother in her first year and they had me a few years later. My father wasn't high up the list of males, but he was not near the bottom either. My mother was an average woman who my father thought would make an adequate mate. I don't think that they hate each other, but I don't see the love there either. My mother like most gave her virginity to a man of her choosing who I am pretty sure she had feelings for. The problem was that he was not considered a high-ranking male so he was not able to choose a mate.

There is a night and day difference in the relationship between my parents versus one of my parents. My father. Grew up in the time when the Chosen took control and he fell into line with their teaching no matter how absurd they are. My grandmother always had a look of disappointment when she would listen to my father talk about the greatness of the Chosen leaders. I see how it kills her to know her family. Will never know the happiness of what life used to be before the illness.

My grandparents would often tell me stories from before and would tell me their love story. I grew up to see both sides of what life was and what the reaping has caused. Many women kill themselves due to the harsh treatment that their mate gives them. Most men have begun to look at women as nothing more than a means to reproduce and a personal housekeeper.

I look to my bedside table and see the clock reading six am and know that there is no point in my trying to go back to sleep. I have chores to do and my temporary job to get to. Most women only receive the basics in education unless their intelligence is off the charts. Although my intelligence is high my father pushed me to only do marginally well on my tests. He said that he was concerned for my safety and that the Chosen would take me away if I scored too high. I honestly think that it all had to do with the fact that I am smarter than he is and he was afraid of the embarrassment of having a smart daughter.

Girls are given temporary jobs to do until they go to reaping. Most women do not work once they are chosen. They are expected to stay at home and raise their family. The Chosen states that this is done so that the population can rebuild and that our core values are taught. I have no problem staying at home as I have always wanted to have a large family. The only problem is that I wanted it with someone who I love. I know that is something that is just a dream, but I use that dream to get me through the day.

As I finish my chores and make my way to the pharmacy that I work at I think about Michael. He has been my friend since we were ten and he is the man I plan to give my virginity to. He has told me for years that he wants to choose me at reaping and although I don't necessarily love him I feel that we're could make a good family. I have been trying to talk to him for the past three weeks but he is nowhere to be found.

Three weeks ago the men found out what their standing and choosing order is for the reaping. That was the last day that anyone saw Michael. I know that's he is very intelligent and he is most definitely a handsome man so I know can't be upset about his ranking. I just hope nothing happened to him. I'm counting on him to choose me and save me from what could be a rough future.

Over the last few months, he has been getting restless about me giving myself to him. He says it's because he doesn't want something to happen and I get chosen by someone else and have that person hurt me. I want to believe that is the reason but in all honesty, I think he is just like most young men, horny. He thinks that I don't know of his exploits with the girls of the village, but I'm not stupid. I'm nothing special with my red hair and average body. The only thing I have going for me is the intelligence that I have to hide to protect my father's pride. I have had men ask me out but I have always turned them down for one reason or another.

My mother does her best to try to get me to forget the notion of love, but I just can't make myself do it. I know that there is someone out there that I can love, I just haven't met him yet. I know that I will just settle if I end up with Michael but the devil you know is better than the one you don't.

I work my shift and begin to make my way back home. I think about trying to contact Michael once again but quickly change my mind. Something is telling me that what I once that would be my best option for giving myself to someone of my choice now seems like a really bad idea. I look to the sky and see the sun beginning to set and come to the conclusion that I am just going to let fate chose my future. The more I think and worry about it the less I am enjoying my last few days with my family. There are no promises as to where I will end up and I know deep down that I can't rely on Michael. So the best option is to go with the flow and let fate work her magic, whether it's good or bad.