As the golden sunlight hits my eyelids, I turn over in bed. It's the wedding day. I wait a few moments in the beautiful silence. I wait for signal. I wait for something to tell me whether I'm making the right choice. But nothing does.
My mother barges into my room. "Let's go!" she chirps. "We've got things to do!"
I groan but I turn and sit up. I manage a smile.
"Now that's the spirit!" Mother says. She pulls me out of bed and grabs a brush. "First, hair." She starts to brush my hair and list what we need to do. I zone out.
My mom starts to work her makeover magic. At the end, I look like a doll, made up to look perfect in every way. Fake in all ways possible.
She hurries me out of the house. We float through the streets probably looking relatively crazy. We reach the courthouse and she pushes me inside. "Don't worry Aira," my mother cooes. "It will be okay. We have everything covered."
But who knows how this will go? I can't see the future and neither can she. Neither can Eli.
I grab Mother's hand for support. She opens the door in front of us and walks me down the aisle. Eli looks estatic. I fake a smile.
The justice of peace begins his spiel about marriage. I look into Eli's eyes. I don't want to do this. I like him but I can't.
The justice asks,"Eli, do you take Aira as your wife?"
He smiles. "I do."
"Aira, do you take Eli as your husband?" the justice continues.
I don't respond. And then I run.
YOU ARE READING
The Search
Science FictionIn the distant future, everyone must be married by the age of nineteen. If you are not married by your nineteenth birthday, the government chooses your spouse. This is a fate Aira is dreading. She's also dreading her parents choosing her husband. Bu...
