One Ring Down

Chapter 3

           Before I know it, a paper and a small pouch are being forcefully shoved into my right hand, and the principal is grabbing my left hand. My instincts take over and I complete the handshake, and then a sudden flash blinds me while I’m trying so desperately to smile. This may go on record as my worst photo ever, which is hard to accomplish, considering we’re all supposed to be perfect, even on camera. With a ‘congratulations’ pat on the shoulder, I’m sent on my way off of the stage. My nerves have calmed down just enough for me to hear Nick’s name being called. I almost forgot he was even here. I turn around just enough to see how spectacular he looks, and then continue to my seat.

           Five more people are lined up to walk the stage before the ceremony is over. Everyone who is already seated waits anxiously. None of us are allowed to look at our rings until the procession is over, and the ceremony called to a close. I stare at the gold draw-string bag. It’s just big enough to hold two rings, and just transparent enough to make out the shapes; nothing else. In this one little bag, my entire future is being held. One ring will have my birth date, name, and graduation date. I will wear this ring for the rest of my life. The other ring will tell me the name and ID number of my soon-to-be spouse, if I’m even allowed one, and I pray to the sky that I am. For normal people, this second ring will be traded in for a marriage-ring in exactly one year, when they’re allowed to move in with their spouse.

           Everything goes completely silent, and I know the ceremony is about to end. Our principal takes to the podium one last time; his words seem to come out in slow motion.

           “Congratulations, and welcome to your new life as a UCE adult citizen. Have a perfect future. Dismissed.”

           All at once shouts ring out and people are running everywhere. Everyone is ripping open their pouches and admiring their futures.

           But I find that I can’t bring myself to do it. My fingers won’t untie the draw-string bag. It’s like trying to talk myself into jumping off a ledge. No matter how many times my mind says I’ll do it, but my body just won’t listen. My head jolts up, and through the chaos, I try to find Nick. If I can find him opening his pouch, maybe I’ll be able to find the inspiration to do the same. I finally find the familiar eyes, but by then, they’ve already found me. Nick’s smile is as big as ever as he makes his way across the room. I can’t return the smile; instead I sit, frozen as a statue, in a cold sweat. I could throw up right now. What if he already looked at his rings? What if his future is so great, he has completely forgotten about my dilemma? I frantically search is body for signs of an opened or closed pouch. I must look like I’m having a seizure; Nick’s pace picks up, and he raises his un-opened pouch for me to see. Like always, he always knows what I’m thinking. My eyes stop twitching, and stay glued to the pouch until he arrives at my chair.

           “I thought you would appreciate it if I opened it at the same time as you” Nick pats my shoulder and sits down in the chair Jenny previously occupied.

           “Y-yah, thank you.” I squeeze the pouch that’s tightly gripped in my hand and bring it up to my chest.

           Nick holds his pouch up to face level, as if to make a toast. “To a perfect future”.

           And the drawstrings loosen. Two rings sit patiently at the bottom of the gold pouch. They’re calling to me, just waiting to be held in my hand, and placed on my ring finger, and stay with me for the rest of my life. Nick already has his fingers in his pouch, waiting for me to catch up. My fingers dip into the silky cloth, but retract before they can snatch the rings. I’m hesitating out of the fear that the ring in the pouch will turn into a snake and suffocate me, like in my nightmare. I pat my hair subconsciously just to make sure it isn’t on fire, bringing out a weird look from Nick. The procrastination has to stop. With no more second thought, my fingers rip into the pouch and pull out the rings before I can stop myself.

           They fit so perfectly in the palm of my hand. The light catches one of the rings, and sends a brilliant sparkle from the gold surface. It’s hard to believe these pretty little things could be my worst enemy.

           “You going to look at them?” Nick nudges my shoulder. I look up to find that he hasn’t looked at his own yet.

           “Just admiring them…” my voice is barely above a whisper. I don’t know why I’m lying to Nick, he caught the fib the second it left my mouth, like I knew he would.

           “You’ll be fine, Lynn. Everything’s going to turn out okay. We’ll do it together. First…” Nick lifts up his first ring: the one that has our birth and graduation date, “We have this ring. The one we’ll both wear for the rest of our lives. The one that will never change.”

           I follow suit and lift up my ID ring. The silver engraving reads the exact same as Nicks. I’m not sure why, but that fact brings my hope. No matter what the other ring says, this ring will always be the same. I’ll always have this ring in common with Nick.

           “And now… are you ready?” As if to give me motivation, Nick takes my hand and draws it toward my second ring.

           “I, I think so…” My hand hovers over the gold piece. I take a deep breath, and just like before, my fingers grab the ring before I can have second thoughts. Nick grabs his ring at the same time.

           We’re both in our own worlds while we read the delicate silver engravings. I’m not worried for Nick. He’s a perfect specimen. With no doubt, he’ll have a bright future.

           It’s me I’m worried about right now. I’m frozen to my seat with my head down, staring at the explicit words engraved in the gold.

           My hair has turned into an inferno on top of my head, making it sear with pain; the snake has coiled around my throat, driving the oxygen from my lungs.

           “MARRIAGE: DENIED… OFFSPRING: DENIED”