The Choosing

The system of Wallowdale

Most people's love stories have one person in it. One goal to get that one person to return the love you've given them. My love story however, involves every 16 to 18 year old in town and a long elaborate system.
People back then created chaos and ruin. Everyone would argue over everything, one of those many things being love and affection. So our government made the Wallowdale system.
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Today I turn 16 years old, well better known as the day I start the Wallowdale program.
Wallowdale is the name of My town. Every girl and boy that turns 16 has to go to the town ball and sign up for the program. To sign up we have to give out all our information. Unfortunately we also have to include a small blood sample. I hate needles So this will be fun, I thought to myself.
In the town hall I wait for the woman sitting at the desk to call me up. "Next," she shouts not lifting her sight from her work.
I walk up to her waiting for her to say more.
"What's your name," the women says. in a monitored voice.
"Adelynn Crawford."
She digs through a stack of papers, then stops and pulls a clump of them out.
"Okay here you go," She says then points at the paper, "Sign here, here, and put your information there. When you are done come back to the desk and I'll give you your needle so we can have your blood sample."
I nod and walk to a room with a table and some couches and got to writing.
After I finish signing up and my finger still itches with pain from the needle, I remembered the worst part of this hasn't even started.
One thing most people in Wallowdale like to do is well um ....... How would I put this......... Repopulate. This means people here get married early compared to people in other towns. In this town we start looking or in this case testing for a man or woman when we turn 16. We test for 2 years and when we turn 18 We find out who we get to spend the test of our lives with. I am the person who hid in the corner and never played outside with the other kids so I don't really know anyone. I wonder who I would be with I think, then I push the thought to the back of my mind and walk out of the town ball toward my house.
As I'm walking down the road I see my best friend Alexa. Alexa and I have been best friends since, well ever since I can remember. Alexa is probably the most spunk, most upbeat person I know. She has red hair and blue eyes which actually can be really beautiful. I don't think she will have a problem finding her husband. Alexa has a better chance than finding a husband than I do, that's for sure.
I smile at her as she comes my way.
"Have you signed up for testing yet," She asks me curiously.
I nod and look at my finger rolling it in my hand to see if its still bleeding. Then I look back up at Alexa and whisper; "I'm nervous, what of the test concludes that I have no sole mate and I'm unlovable." I look down at the ground.
"Adelynn Crawford," Alexa says louder than I want, "You are the most interesting, beautiful girl I know. Trust me someone is bound to love you." She smiles and puts her hand on my back giving me a side hug.
I smile at her thankfully and stop walking knowing I'm at my house.
"I'm going to start packing, you should probably do the same considering we start the program tomorrow."
I open my door, wave goodbye to Alexa, and head to my room to get to work.
I pack only the necessities like my clothes and other stuff like that. I start to think about the program. What kinds of tests will we have to do. Will they be hard. I finish packing and lay in my bed. Then I slowly drift off to sleep.