I'm Not the Protagonist

The Article

"Kate, I really need you to write that article! The people need to know about these rebels! They'll just bring down everything that we've worked hard to establish as a human race!" 

I pulled the phone a little ways from my ear. Hearing the newspaper editor as frantic as he was wasn't music to my ears.

"Yes, sir. I'll get onto it right away. When should I have it ready?"

"Today."

"Today?" I wheezed through the phone. "Harold, are you out of your mind? I can't do it all in less than twenty-four hours!"

"I'm just telling you to do an article, not a six-hundred thirty-five page novel-"

"I know but-"

"-and that's final." He hung up.

I sighed, putting the home phone down, and plopped on the couch, dragging a hand down my face.

"Are you alright, honey?" Benjamin, my spouse, walked into the comfort room. He sat down beside me and started rubbing circles on my back.

"I'm..." I drawled out, thinking. What should I have said? I've never had so many emotions flow through me. It was so strange. "I'm just... surprised, I guess. Shocked. Overwhelmed."

"Why?" Benjamin wrapped his arms around me, leaning a head on my shoulder.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and leaned my head on his. "Well, why wouldn't I be? I mean, the Differents rebel group is on the rise, people are questioning our government system, and on top of all that, the newspaper editor wants me to make an article to reassure the people that the life that we know now is perfect, and the rebels will just destroy it all!"

"I know it's a lot, but we'll get through it-"

"And the article has to be finished by today."

Benjamin got up to look me in the eyes. "Seriously?"

"Yes, Benny. You heard right."

He put his head down and muttered something under his breath.

"What did you say?"

He looked up at me and ran a hand through his hair. "What if they're right?"

"Who?"

"The rebels!"

I scoffed and punched his chest playfully. "You're joking. Their values are so messed up. I mean, come on, Benny! The Differents think that if people had different beliefs and ways of life, the world would be better. But that would just bring imbalance, chaos- and what if people became... jealous of what each other had? That would make people angry at each other and they'd act... unruly! And-" Benjamin slapped a hand over my mouth. 

"But what if they are right?" He whispered. He looked frightened. "What if the government is messed up, and..." He took my hands in his. "...We weren't meant to be."

I smiled at him sadly and gave him a kiss- tender and warm. When I pulled back, he still looked worried. I cupped his cheek with my hand and he leaned into my touch. "Benny, I know for sure that if we weren't truly in love, I wouldn't have kissed you just now, and you wouldn't be worried about what the Differents say. We were meant to be."

Benjamin smiled. That same, warm and gentle smile I saw for the very first time six years ago. The same smile that I grew to fall in love with, just as the government predicted.

Which is all the more reason why the government must be right and the Differents must be wrong.

"Mommy? Daddy? Is everything okay?"