Broken

2-Avriel

"What the hell?" I scream at my father.

"Tori, Tori is gone. You're getting a new wife. Her name is Kirstin Maldonado, she's a florist, scored exceptionally high on her tests. Great home maker," my father replied cooly, as though I hadn't just bursted at him. 

"Gone?"

"Cheated. Paired to someone new. Gone."

"Kirstin? When is the girl coming?"

"Tonight at 7. I cannot be here to mediate, and I will talk to you about your new assignment tomorrow."

"New assignment?!" This time, I didn't refrain to slam my palms on the table. This man is changing my whole life.

"You're taking a job closer to the top. You're part of something very important, son."

"Is she attractive?"

My father curtly nods once, and hands me her folder. She was tan, short blonde hair. Her cheekbones penetrated her skin sharply, causing the apples of her cheeks to stick out prominently. She had light brown eyes, a half smile, full pink lips, and a nose that curled in at the very bottom. This girl wasn't pretty, wasn't attractive. She was something of another place, something our city hasn't gotten to touch. It seems as though she wasn't from this planet, she was new. Our winters haven't kissed her cheeks, our summers haven't stroked her skin.

She was flawless.

"She's mine?"

"She's fire, from what I've heard. All temper and sass and spitfire."

I nod once. A difficult one.

My father leaves shortly after so I can prepare for the stunning Kirstin to enter my home.

I don't like living here. It's all space, all walls that swallow you whole, all unused rooms. I don't want a job closer to the top, I want to escape.

Maybe Ms. Spitfire can be my way out. Maybe she can be my escape.

I wonder if she's been in love. Dating isn't suggested before tests, but it isn't banned. Kids fall in love, have their hearts crushed, and then they marry someone they deserve. The system is beautiful like that.

I wonder if I'm her first match. I can't be. She's 19, her first, and should've been only, would've been given to her at 18. I can't be Kirstin's first.

I wonder if I will be the first in other places. 

First time, well, making love. First kiss. First husband. First "I love you."

I want to be her first.

I want to be the beautiful Kirstin's first. 

I hear a pounding at my door.

Alex Kirk.

One of my closest friends, he was an oddity around here. Homosexuality wasn't banned either, but not many people were. Lots of forms, lots of trouble. Alex got paired with Scott. They were willing to do it. We chatted until 6:30, until I ushered him out. I needed to be perfect for beautiful Kirstin.

When the time came I was ready. Tori insisted she was nothing more than an inconvenience to her, this pairing was for the public. She was gone now, and I hope Kirstin is more.

She looks bored when I open the door.

She has two boxes in hand.

She's moving in.

She is beautiful.

She is attitude.

She is living with me.

"You hungry?" I suggest. I want to eat with her.

She looks up at me after a hard eye roll, "Starving."