Exchanged

Chapter 1

"Death." An enticing subject that has yet to be discovered. Is it the end of a life? Or merely the beginning of a new one? Fascinating, yet it sends a bitter chill down your spine when the word rolls off your tongue.

As Mack and I discussed the pros and cons of ending the suffer, the pain, the sorrow before it even began, I couldn't help but crack my knuckles (a nervous habit). The thought of ending my life, the life that God has given me was burdensome. However, losing the life of someone I love in exchange for my life was unthinkable. This was a decision I had to make, for today was the annual "Exchange Day."

The concept of Exchange Day is to sacrifice the eldest or youngest family member, in exchange for the rest of your family's lives. This is supposed to prevent over-population. Two years ago, it was my grandpa. Last year, it was my grandma. This year, it was going to be my father.

"What did we do to deserve this? To choose to live our lives with the guilt of taking away our loved ones lives. Or to volunteer to end our own," I exclaimed. "This year, I refuse to have the eldest be sacrificed."

"But Elle, your the youngest, therefore they'll have to take you. And I will not allow that to happen," Mack said.

He's always been protective of me. Older, taller, and more mature than I, Mack has always treated me like a child. But I'm sixteen now, and he's eighteen. The age difference is not major in my region.

"I would rather die than watch the man who raised me, fed me, nurtured me, get slaughtered," I shot back at Mack.

He stared at me. His dark brown eyes piercing into my soul. I saw those brown eyes fill up to the brim with tears. I had never seen Mack cry. I grabbed his hand and let my head fall onto his shoulder. I could sense his concern for me.

After wiping his eyes, he finally concluded, "Its your decision, not mine. You decide whether you live a life with guilt, or don't live a life at all. However, I will say my opinion. I don't want anything to happen to you, but I don't want you to be miserable."

I took these notes into account as I saw the sun rising. The slaughterhouse would be opening soon. Mack and I hopped of the fence we had been sitting on and walked home. I couldn't help but hold his hand, hoping that if I held it, time would stop. And I could delay the Exchange.