"Norah, there's someone at the door!" Charlie yelled, setting his book down to give his voice maximum volume.
"Okay. And?" I replied, voice equally loud as I cracked my door to stick my head out. My nine-year-old brother didn't reply, and I knew at that moment there was no way he'd ever be getting up to answer the door. He was probably waist-deep in his book again and, knowing Charlie, there was no coming back from that.
I rolled off my bed slowly and grudgingly headed towards the door, eyes narrowed as I passed my brother. He was clearly a good thirty seconds closer to it then I was, so it really made no sense that I had to entertain the person at our door.
"Hurry, Norah, don't want them to leave." Taunted Charlie, and I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Oh, shut up!" I growled, turning toward the door again.
"Hel-" I started, smiling widely as I pulled the heavy wooden door open. My smile disintegrated as I realized there was no one there, and I leaned down to retrieve the small pile of mail we'd received.
"It's the mail," I called to my brothers, who promptly forgot whatever they were doing and rushed over to me.
"Oh, oh, is my new book in there?"
"Forget Charlie's book, is my package finally here?" Cried William, my other brother. At newly twelve, he was a complete and utter pain in the arse - but, sadly, as he legal guardian for another six months, there was absolutely no way I could get rid of him.
Yet. I checked.
"Hey, hey!" I snapped, holding the pile up high. You know, sometimes height really does come in handy. "Hold on, guys. I'm oldest, and therefore I get first look through the mail. And then you guys, and then we can through the rest into the Reclaimer." I stated, shifting through the letters, still above my head.
Frowning, William and Charlie huffed and crossed their arms. Walking over to the table, we sat down and I spread the papers on the table. Frowning, I looked through them one more time before leaning back into my chair.
"Get at 'em, boys." I said glumly, resting my head against the back of the worn out kitchen chair. There was a flurry of noises and yes! as the boys found what they wanted.
"Norah?" Questioned William, waving a letter in my face. I snapped my eyes open, preparing to yell at him in anger, after noticing what it was.
"Oh my God!" I squealed, yanking it out of his hands. "Oh my God!" I hugged the letter to my chest, jumping around, excitedly, in circles.
"What is it?"
Calming down enough to answer my brothers' question, I ripped open the envelope. "It's a letter from the Nation. Do you know how big that is?"
William's eyes widened, and he grinned. "That's great! What's it for? Are we finally getting assigned a new place to live?" I paused before looking at the letter, considering my options.
Looking at my surroundings, I realized it'd probably be better for a new living assignment - our house was falling apart. Because I was only seventeen, I barely made enough for the rent of our house, let alone food and clothing. And then, of course, there were other things, like Internet and water. Everyone in the city got free cable and electricity, thanks to the Nation, our worlds leaders.
Still, it was a struggle to survive daily - even with the money we were given from the government. The thing was, the moment I turned eighteen, William and Charlie would no longer have that money, or my income. All that would go to me. Which was why it was so important that, if this letter was about what I thought it was, I'd need to find them a good home for the next few years.
"No, Willy, I don't think it is." I replied slowly, eyes on him as I unfolded the thrice folded paper.
Mrs. Norah Ryder,
It's my pleasure to congratulate you on the recent success of being accepted into the Mem Sip program. In case you don't remember the details from the form you filled in two months ago, Mem Sip is a process, or program, in which any who reply or apply are given the chance to have their childhood memories, the chosen ones, reset. By the twelfth of February, call the number listed below to organize an appointment after the date of your eighteenth birthday.
Mr. Hitch.
I squealed again and jumped up from the chair, running into my room and then back. Finally, I would get what'd I dreamed of since I was a child. Finally, I would be free of the pain I'd suffered for years. Free of responsibility, free of being the oldest child, free of being the mother of the family.
Being accepted, or, at least, accepted to be interviewed was a big deal to me. After my interview, if I was accepted, I'd be given a dose of Memory Serum - a liquid that would reset my mind, and give me new memories.
I wouldn't remember the grief I'd dealt with since I was seven. And as much as it pained me to say so, there was one thing I was ready to forget.
My parents.
So, this is my first official story on Wattpad, guys (: I apologize for any mistakes, grammar or spelling or whatever, because this hasn't been edited yet. Anyway, I'm sorry this is so short, too, but this was typed on an iPad, so it's hard to type a lot. Next chapter, I swear, will be soooo much longer, but then again, this is just a first chapter, so don't have such high expectations x3
But anyway, thanks for reading, and don't forget to vote, comment, and follow; because it really, really means a TON to me!
- Emelia <3
