Perfect Imperfection

Chapter Four

I remember the first time I met my brother 8,903's pair. It was way back when I was just 11. Mother invited her over for dinner, about a week before their wedding. The first moment I saw her, it became the first time I had ever been jealous in my entire life. The room lit up as soon as she walked through the front door. Her long, golden curls fell down her back, and her clear blue eyes lit up when she laughed. Her skin glowed in the sunlight, which had given her soft freckles covering her cheeks. For the first time, I understood why her identification was 11,058. These days, they have three young children, and are expecting a fourth. Now, as I think about that day, staring into the bathroom mirror, I realize I can never be like her. My auburn hair is long but wispy and thin. My green eyes are dull, and my skin has never seen the light of the sun. My pairing is less than a month away, but I can't believe anyone would want to get paired with me. 

The next day at school, we have our final singing exams of the school year. At my school, the only girls high school in the city, our exams are scattered over two weeks. First is singing, then flute and violin, which is followed by dance. After that it's cooking, cleaning and childcare. Then finally, there's sowing, knitting, and polite conversation. Anyway, all the girls, including me, were giddy with nerves. Our final grades of the school year can affect our pairs, meaning it could affect the rest of our lives. Naturally, I can't keep myself shaking.

"Alright, warm up your voices ladies," Madam orders. I sit close to 12,840 as we do our scales. My voice is shaking and I can't seem to make it stop.

"You okay?" 12,840 asks, looking at me with a concerned expression. I nod, though I'm not. It doesn't matter, because 12,840 could never understand. 12,840 is beautiful, smart, and has a perfect family. She will definitely get a great pair, maybe even fall in love. She's 5'6, a perfect height. She has medium length dirty blonde hair, perfect big hazel eyes, and fair skin. She's beyond perfect. And it makes me angry sometimes. I close my eyes and picture an A+ for singing.

"The manager told me what my job is last night!" 12,840 whispers to me, her voice filled with giddy excitement. "I'm gonna be a-"

"Hush, you can't tell me!" I scold. She caps her hand over her mouth.

"Sorry," she whispers. Madam strolls to the front of the room. 

"Alright ladies," she says, clapping her hands twice. "It's time to start your exams!"

"Are you nervous?" 12,840 whispers. I shake my head and smile, only because I know I'm too anxious to speak. 

"First up, 15,612," Madam calls out. A tall yet beautiful girl heads to the front of the classroom. "Your highest scale, darling." She begins, and I swear she's an angel. Jealousy swept through me and as she finishes the entire room explodes in applause.

"Inspiring, darling," Madam says, the sweetest I've ever heard it sound. "Next, 19,025." I walk up, my eyes scanning the room. Even though I'm nervous, I steady my voice and start my scales. In what seems like an instant, I finish and several girls clap politely. 12,840 claps the loudest. 

"Good," Madam says. I sit down. "Next, 13,101." A gorgeous but cocky girl heads to the front of the classroom. She opens her mouth and out comes a screeching wail. 

"Enough!" Madam yells, but the girl keeps singing, convinced her singing is perfect. 12,840 and a couple other girls cover their ears. I cringe. Like clockwork, two officials march into the room and drag her towards the door.

"N-No, wait! I can sing better than any of them! Listen! Listen!" She lets out another scream. She doesn't come back the next day, or the next, or the next. I don't want to know what became of her.