Perfect Imperfection

Chapter One

I've read about the glow of the moon. The stars shining against the dark sky. The beautiful fades of pinks, oranges, and yellows as the sun sets. The drops of rain littering down on the world, and the snowflakes, like crystals. But most of all, the wind, that can carry anyone far away to places you've only dreamed of. I just wish I could fly away, like a bird.

"19,025," a voice calls out. I open my eyes at hearing my identification number. There's an official standing close to me, scanning the room. I stand and quietly approach him. He nods and leads me down a gleaming white hallway. My hands are trembling as I anticipate what lies ahead. There's a singular door at the end of the corridor. The official gestures for me to enter. At that, he briskly walks away, leaving me all alone. I take a deep breath and open the door. The only items in the room were a slick black table and matching chairs, which five officials filled. I stand in front of the table, not sure which to look at, but decide it doesn't matter as they all dress in the same clean white lab coat with their perfectly polished shoes.

"Household?" one speaks up, his voice robotic and emotionless. Even though I can't see his eyes through his black tinted sunglasses, I know if I could, I'd see them staring straight into mine.

"VGIAXWR," I say, willing my voice to steady. The last thing I need is to seem nervous right now.

"Identification?" another demands, the same demeanor as the last. I start to wonder why this whole meeting is necessary, but I push the thought out of my mind as quickly as it came. I don't question the officials. Nobody questions the officials.

"19,025," I say, repeating the numbers I've known my whole life. My numbers.

"Job, current and assigned?" the official in the middle asks me.

"I'm a waitress, and the manager-"

"What manager?" one official speaks up, his voice stern but stripped of all emotion. I try and will my nerves to calm.

"Neighborhood Delta," I continue. He nods, and I stifle a sigh of relief. "I've been assigned a job as a nurse, at the ADEBC hospital. For the first time, I notice all five officials have been hastily scribbling down notes. I take a deep breath, knowing it's only what I've told them. Even then, I'm still nervous, knowing I should've been more attentive.

"Dismissed," one says. I nod and go back into the hall. I feel my nerves calm down as I walk back towards the waiting room. As I enter, a nurse is waiting for me. She leads me into a small room, also clean and shining. In the center, there's a comfortable looking grey chair.

"Sit down, honey," the nurse says, gesturing towards it. Her words imply compassion, but they were spoken with no emotion at all. I comply, and feel something sharp poke my left arm. My vision fades away and the world goes black.