Delirium

Intro

  It's been 64 years since the borders shut. Since the United States of America declared love a disease. Amor deliria nervosa. That's the name of the disease that took my parents from me. Deliria is a treacherous disease, it once took the name of love and corrupted the blood of all. Thankfully there is a cure. It is dangerous-but not as dangerous as to continue living with love. Everyone is cured when they turn 18-not sooner because the procedure is deadly for those younger-their body is not strong enough. I'm 17 and I can't wait to be cured. 238. That's all I need. 238 days to be cured. To be safe- be free and safe. In one month I will have my evaluation. That's the first step. Everyone must be evaluated. Depending on your score (god forbid you get a 6 or bellow) and you school grades, you will be assigned a college, a career, and a pair. You don't exactly get assigned a pair-you receive an envelope containing 4 to 5 names of possible pairs. You will look over them and choose which you believe to be best for you. Then the government tries to make everyone happy and pairs most of the people with whom they preferred and whom they know is best for us. Like my aunt always says "If anyone knows best-the scientists, god, and the government does, Mandalyn." I always wince when she says my name. Through her gaze of disappointment. And who wouldn't be disappointed? Disgusted, even? I, unlike other children...was product of deliria. My father and mother fled to the Wilds (parts of our county where there is no civilization) to love in freedom to become invalids (people who are against the government and live in the Wilds). They did not understand that they could not be free because they were sick-because deliria had taken hold of their brain. They had left me behind; their 7 year old daughter. I was lucky that my aunt took me in, that she didn't let me rot in the streets. I was lucky that I hadn't been put to sleep. I took a deep breath fighting back the tears, the pain. That would go away too. That's what the doctors said. That's what the cure promised-to take the pain away.