Worlds Apart

Chapter Eleven - Juliette

        The ride home is silent. My mother only speaks few times to try to learn why I'm being so quiet. But I don't feel like talking. I don't know what I would say. Surely I'm not going to tell her about what happened.

        Once home, I go straight to my room. I have nothing to say to my parents, and they don't tell me I need to stay downstairs.

        I wish there was something I could do to clear my head, but music is prohibited unless it is approved, and none of that music is any good. Books also must be approved, and the few good ones I am allowed, I have already read multiple times. So instead I settle on staring out my window in my bedroom. I stare until that is all I can remember.

        I am awoken by something. No, someone. I look up to see my mothers blurry face in my vision.

        "Hi sweetheart, I think you fell asleep when you got home. Are you feeling okay?" My mother asks lightly with a smile. I reply with a nod. "Yeah, I'm okay. It was just a very tiring day. Is there something you needed?" I ask her sweetly. "Oh, yes. I was just going to tell you that dinner is ready if you'd like to come down." She answers. "Okay, I'll be there in just a minute." I tell her, and she smiles and leaves.

        I stand up from the chair I was sitting in, peeling my cheek off my windowsill. It makes a quiet sucking sound, and I pull more gently, as it begins to hurt. My head lifts, and I look around.

        I turn to look out the window, and see that the sun is setting, causing the sky to turn a beautiful assortment of oranges and pinks. I admire the scene for a minute before I remember I was called for dinner. Sighing quickly, I pick myself up and go downstairs.

        Upon walking into the dining room, I see I am greeted by a lovely arrangement of decedent foods and my mother and father at each end of the table. I take my place in between the two, as I always do, and we all say grace before eating.

        The meal is delicious, and I had almost forgotten how tasty of meals my mother makes. To say she is a good chef would be an understatement, that's for sure.

        We finish eating, and I am told I should go up to my room, and begin packing my things so I can leave. We are given a week after graduating, to meet our fiancé, find our house and jobs, and settle in. Then we are expected to start work, just like any other adult.

        During dinner, my mother spoke to me about my schedule for the week. I will need to go to the town hall tomorrow, where I will receive all legal papers I need, telling me the information about my future. The next day, I have been instructed to meet my fiancé and get to know him. Then we will find our house we are placed in on Wednesday, and the remainder of the week will be spent bringing our things over to the house and unpacking.

        In everything I do, I try to forget what that crazy girl who claimed to be my sister from the Waste said, but it keeps wriggling its way back into my life. It has gotten to the point where I can't sleep some night because of it. I have to know for sure if it's true. I need to figure this out.

        The next morning at breakfast, I decide it is time to ask my mother the question I have been avoiding asking her for the past day and a half since I saw the girl.

        "Um, mom? Can I ask you something?" I say hesitantly.

        "Of course, sweetheart. What is it?" She replies sweetly.

        "Well, the other day - when I was delivering the supplies to the Waste - I met this girl. . . And she um, well she said something interesting to me, and I think it might be true. But before I assume anything, I thought I should ask you first." I say slowly.