Unmatchable

Chapter Three

One hour left.

I couldn't believe it.
When I had woken up there had been three long hours left.
Now there's only one.
Time ticks away and every minute that passes I'm closer, and closer to the end of it.
Everything was going by so fast.
My whole family sits on couches in silence.

"Are you scared, Teresa?" Lillian asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"No," I begin. "I'm terrified." I give a small smile, trying to show that I'm at least a little excited as well.

But I'm not.

Worry is overwhelming on your final day.
Some girls can handle everything much better than others.
Some just hide their emotions.
Others are only excited, and happy.
I'm not ready to move on from this yet.

The Society knows when you're ready, or so they tell us.

They watch us, and they take note of our behavior and hobbies.

Then they find another citizen with almost all the same likes and dislikes as the other person.

They make sure that their behavior matches well, and then they match them.

That's how the system works.

All the children learn about it in school.

Mother looks at me.
Her hair is messy.
She sits next to me on the couch.
She gives a faint smile.
Then mother hugs me.
I cry.
Lillian is sobbing.
Why would she miss me?
Lili walks over and I squeeze her tight against my chest.

"It's okay." I tell her.

But it's not. She knows it too.

"I'm going to miss you." Lillian says.

"We all are." Mother adds.

"I'm going to miss you guys too." I reply.

Father and Sam sit across from us.
I almost laugh because they look so embarrassed.

"Even you Sam." I say to him. Sam grins and walks to me.

"I'll miss you Ree." He says. I smile.

When he was a toddler, Sam used to call me Ree.
He would waddle around calling me.
"Ree!"
He was the sweetest child.
Ever since then it's been my nickname.

A tear slips down my cheek as the memories flood my mind.

Things won't be the same without my family.
Sure, I'll see them on the streets.
Or maybe at work one day if we're assigned to the sane building.
But talking to other family members is forbidden.
It's because they don't want us to make our spouse feel 'unloved'.
The Society doesn't want us to pick family over match.
Honestly, if it did come down to my family or my match, I'd pick my family.

+ + +

30 minutes left.
My family has to leave for school, and work, at the same time I have to leave.
I savor every moment as if it were my last half hour in this world.
We all eat some pancakes. Usually I love the flavor of pancakes, but today I taste nothing.

That's how nervous I am.

I'm not sure if I'm excited. Is the giant-hole-in-your-stomach feeling a sign of excitement?
I'm pretty sure it's not.
Everyone finishes, which means it's time to say goodbye.
Lillian walks to me.

"Bye Teresa." She says. Sniffling, I hug her. She starts crying.

"Hey," I start. I crouch down so we're eye level. "There's no need to cry." I place my hand on her face and wipe away a tear.