The Last...

In a dystopian future, the providence of Carsynn sees love as a uniformity and an illusion. They believe that love is an emotion only found after marriage-that it doesn't really exist. When your year turns 18, each male is randomly assigned a female. No math, science, or compatability is involved. When Amalia's future husband comes to take her away, things take a turn for the worst. Now everyone is watching, and no one is safe. This may be the end of it all.

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1

"Amalia, dress nicely. You want to impress him." my mother said as she walked back down the hallway to her bedroom. I had finished packing my things last night and I was sort of ready to go. The only problem was that I didn't want to leave. 

I've lived my entire life in this house. Everything I've ever held dear to me- everything I've loved- is in this house. In the middle of a field, a half mile up a driveway. Secluded in my own little paradise. But now a man I don't even know is going to ruin it for me. but I guess that's just how it's meant to be.  My mother probably felt the same when she met my father. 

The two say they grew to love each other- but it can't be true. It might just be because no one here knows what love really is. They've never had the pleasure of finding the one for you and falling head over heels. Would it be so terrible? How bad would it be if people had some freedom?

The presidents are the ones who control everything. They pair us up. They give us the papers to sign. They limit the number of children we can have. It's all about numbers. Everything comes down to digits- except the one you spend your life with. All the female's names are placed in a box. Each male comes through and grabs a name. The next thing you know, he's showing up at your house to whisk you off. 

Half of the time, you've met your husband before. It could be someone you go to school with. You could end up marrying the boy from your history class that drew a penis on the board when the teacher wasn't looking. 

I have no idea who my companion will be. All I know is that he'll be here at exactly 2 o'clock. And he'll probably expect me to carry my own heavy bags and follow him on his way to wherever he's going. Alot of men have no respect. But no matter who it is, you're stuck with them until the day you die. 

You also don't know how far you're going. It might be down the street, or the other edge of the providence. And there's no turning back. Once you leave, you can never return again. Today is the last day I will ever see my family. 

After another few minutes I hear a knock on the door. I look at the clock on the counter and see that's its only 1:43. It can't be him. He wouldn't show up 17 minutes early, would he? What if he's one of those people who shows up extra early for everything? My heart starts racing and I haven't moved. I continue to stare at the door until my father comes rushing in and looks at me with his wild blue eyes. 

"Lia? Aren't you going to answer that?" He questions me. 

"Why should I?" I stand up confidently. "Why should I go with whoever that is? It doesn't make any sense."

"Because it's what you're supposed to do." He looks down at me sternly. 

"I don't want to go." I cry, losing my calm and letting a single tear slide down my face. 

"I'll answer it then." he says.  He marches to the door, twisting the brass knob gently. My face flushes cold and I don't know what to do. As soon as the door swings open, two pairs of eyes search for mine, but they're no where to be seen.

I ran. That's right, I took off out the back door. I couldn't feel my feet as they carried me across the freshly lain snow. I'd lost feeling in the cold but I didn't care. I wouldn't even allow myself to see his face. I wouldn't let that haunt me.

I find myself running aimlessly through the woods behind my house, not even looking to see where I'm headed. Running, Running. Running. I can barely feel my now frostbitten toes and my short dress provides no coverage of my limbs. 

I want to stop. I want to turn back and run to the fireplace in my safe warm house. But I can't do that anymore. I can't go prancing back into mommy and daddy's arm when I'm scared. I'm alone now. I'm entirely and wholy on my own. I don't need anyone else to help me. I'm no one's problem anymore. 

When I've made it about a mile and a half from my home- my ex home- I can't go on. I collapse into the white and my breath slows. I try to hold on but the cold has reached my bone. My teeth feel not my own whilst they chatter. My arms are glued to my sides with no sign of moving. My toes have attached to one another, huddling for warmth. 

I could have just given up right then and there. Just closed my eyes and let all the pain go away. But I had a job to do. I had to make a difference here and prove my point. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for the involuntary matchmaking. 

I realize that now I'll probably have to live with my consequences. Maybe be exiled to a deserted island with no food or social interaction. Maybe they'll just kill me and I wont have to live with it. But whatever happens, I know I've screwed it up now...

My throat starts to close up and I try to breathe in some cold air, but it doesn't help. Before I know it My systems are shutting down and I know I'm going to die. I shouldn't have run. Wait- yes I should have. Well, technically I wouldn't have felt the need to run if it wasn't for the matchmaking I wouldn't have needed to run. 

Maybe if things were different, I could have met a boy long ago on my own terms. We could have been together and fallen in love and been happy for the rest of our lives. 

 But no, I wasn't allowed to play by my rules, I was playing by theirs.