SEVENTEEN years to Live

PROLOGUE ●○►DEPTON REPUBLIC

PROLOGUE

●○►DEPTON REPUBLIC

My name is Mary and I don't have a surname. It is in the law of Depton Republic that each person in the country should not possess a surname unless they are rich.

I am fifteen years old. I have two more years to exist in this world. Maybe you're wondering I only get to live up to seventeen years. Well, it is also written in the law.

A few hundred years ago, the leaders of Depton Republic created a law for which every individual in the country will have an expiration date. When you are born, it is in the hands of the government to determine the number of years you should only spend in this world. If it is written in your birth certificate that you should only live for ten years, you live for ten years. You are considered one of the Luckies when you got to live for thirty years. The government only chooses few people to live that long and it is also the longest time a person without a surname can have. The shortest time you can receive is five years.

My mother and father are dead. My father died while my mom was still carrying me as a baby. My mother took care of me for three years only. She got pregnant with me when she was thirteen and my father was only fourteen when the government killed him.

I have no siblings because my parents had no more time making another one. But I have four best friends and I consider them my sisters because we've been together for as long as I can remember. Since they got their menstruation though, they became desperate and wild. I don't know if menstruation was really the reason behind that because the government also encourages girls and women to bear at least one child until expiration. I don't know about my four best friends but I don't think it's really necessary. But I have two more years to live and maybe having a child will be good for me. I need to find someone or at least have sex with someone so I won't die a virgin.

It is past midday. Heather and I are walking to the store to buy some things. Heather decides to buy a notebook for her short stories and I plan to buy a diary. We got our money from selling candies and lollipops at the Market Street. Although we only earn a few every other day, we got to save up so we can buy these things.

When we get to the door of the store, the first things we see are the bookshelves. On the left-hand side are the cash registers. The guard checks us up before we enter. When he's done, we make our way immediately to the Writing Supplies.

Halfway there, Heather pulls me by the shoulder and I stop. She moves her head close to my ear and, "Look. There's your crush," she whispers, pointing at a guy standing at behind a girl at the cash register.

"Don't point at him, you moron," I hiss at her, slapping her hand down.

"Sorry. His name's Kevin, right?"

I nod, eyes fixed on Kevin. Blood rushes to my face and I feel my cheeks turning red. No. I can't be blushing!

"You should go to him." Heather gives me a little push.

I glance over at Heather quickly. "What will I say?" I ask.

She raises an eyebrow and takes a deep breath. "I don't know. Just go." She says it like she's irritated. "I know you want to talk to him. It'll be your chance."

"Okay. But please think of what I am going to say," I told her. "I can't think of anything."

"Um, just ask him when he's going to die."

Really?

"If he's going to die in four years, ask him out and then you can have a baby." I hate Heather for the fact that she talks about sex and pregnancy too much. She always tells me to ask out every guy we meet and I keep on telling her to stop.

"Heather," I say in my scolding voice.

She just stares at me. I don't know what she's thinking but the look that she's giving me right now tells me that I should go already and grab this opportunity.

"Okay," I say finally, turning to go to Kevin who is already done paying at the register. I heave multiple deep breaths. Kevin is already walking and he is walking towards me. When he gets closer, I call out his name.

He meets my eyes.

Oh, my God.

I think I'm dying.

Kevin is a tall handsome guy. Girls like him so much. He always has rosy cheeks and it looks like he's blushing when he's with someone. His hair is blonde and a little wavy over his forehead. His warm green eyes sparkle and twinkle and shine as they look at me and, boy, it was awkward. An uncomfortable shiver goes down my body. I clench my hands in order to keep myself calm.

"Mary." He says my name when he walks to me. He says my name like it's the most beautiful word. "Hi."

"Hi," I reply. "How are you?"

"Good," he says, nodding. "And you?"

"Never better."

A laugh from me. The conversation stops for a moment. The words in my brain are jumbled and I don't know what to say.

"You need anything?" he asks, and I am so thankful that he is the first one to speak after that short pause.

It takes me a few seconds before I find my answer which is only, "No," I tell him, shaking my head. "Nothing, really. I'm just happy to see you here."

"Yeah, me too. I didn't expect it." He glances over at the door and I know what he's going to say next by the time he glances back at me. "I need to go."

"Oh sure."

"If you want, I'll meet you at the Lake later at 4:30."

I smile widely, happy that I get to see him again today. "Cool, I'll see you later."

"Bye, Mary."

"Bye, Kevin."

He waves his hand as he walks away. My eyes follow him before he disappears from my view. Then Heather materializes beside me.

"Did you ask him out?" she asks, a glee on her face.

I shake my head no.

"Why?" Her glee goes away.

"Don't worry, I'll probably do it later. He told me to meet him at the Lake," I explain. "4:30."

"Oh, wow!"

I hope she doesn't ask me if she can come later. I don't want her to come with me because there's a great chance she might ruin it.

I want to do it alone by myself.