Kayla was an orphan. She and her sister Paige had been living with their grandmother for as long as she could remember. She stretched her hand over the cool sand, trying to reach for Paige. However, all she could feel were the little seashells hidden under the golden sand. Reluctantly she stretched and squinted. As she sat up and looked around, she spotted Paige curling up to her grandmother. They were both fast asleep as Kayla looked at them adoringly. Kayla stood up slowly and walked back to the house. Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of the day her parents had voluntarily left the island, on the 505th anniversary of the island’s society. Although she respected her parents’ decision, Kayla thought it as silly to basically commit suicide just because they had shared “true love”. After all, “true love” was a selfish act. She had never doubted the society’s words, the good kind of love was all she needed. That was the main reason she would be marrying her best friend Connor soon this year. They both loved each other as friends, and agreed that their kind of love fulfilled the society’s requirements.
She yawned, dumping her house keys on the kitchen counter as she walked past, then slumped on the sofa. She had stayed up all night talking to the sky, she did that when she needed to speak to her parents, sprawled on the cool sheets of gold.
Reaching out to the table, she turned on the radio to listen to the news. It was a real privilege to own a radio. It was rare and had only been invented 2 years ago, in 2010. People were immensely interested, as it was the only current way to communicate to others all over the island. Kayla had had to work 3000 hours for it.
The currency on the island was job hours. Every hour you worked, you would get a stamp. No one would ever try to cheat the system. If you got found out, you would immediately get sent off the island, with the accusation of not possessing the right kind of love. This was why the trade system had remained fair and honest throughout the years.
The only people who did not have to abide these rules were the Ramonavs, the descendants of the old man who had created and shaped this society. They were treated as royalty, and certainly acted like royalty too. Now, the throne would soon be passed on from the current governor Nicholas to his oldest son William. The Ramonav boys were a hot topic amongst the teenage girls on the island. Especially for William, as according to tradition, the king would have to choose a girl on the island as his future wife on his eighteenth birthday.
Kayla sighed as her attention was caught by the reporter who was covering the news of the 3 ships of people being sent off the island today. She didn’t understand how people could be so polluted by such selfish ideas and risk their lives for them. She had made up her mind: true love was a nasty thing. She nodded to herself, then once again relaxed into the soft sofa.
YOU ARE READING
The Chosen
Romantiek“There are 2 kinds of love,” he said. “One is good and one is bad. The good kind is neighborly love, or friendship. This kind of love would bring out caring and kindness in people, and acts of disobedience would not be accepted. The bad one is “true...
