❝Don't you see the cycle we are living in? The same repeating cycle our ancestors have lived in?❞ I yell glaring at him.
He chooses to remain silent, his eyes set in a hard glare. He's starting to get annoyed with me, but I have to help him under...
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MY EYES ANXIOUSLY continue to drift away from the pages of my book and onto the time displayed on the clock. 6:55pm. It is almost 7pm, it is almost time for the draw to start. Saturday came faster than expected and now that it is here, I want nothing more than for it to be over.
I know the chances of hearing my name called are slim. There are so many young adults attending and who will be attending university next month. However, there is still a chance of my name being picked and my knowledge of that chance is the only thing making me so nervous about the entire draw.
My book drops out of my hand when I hear the door slam open. I quickly whip my head around to see Jasmine taking her shoes off by the doorway. She looks up at me and flashes an apologetic smile, "Spare key."
My mother buried our spare key next to her Japanese Maple tree around three months ago, and after I told Jasmine about it, she's been popping in and out of my house like it is her own. It wouldn't even surprise me if Jasmine's never buried the key back next to the tree after each time she's used it and has instead kept it with her all this time.
I pick my dropped book off of the floor and place it on the coffee table in front of me. Jasmine plops down next to me on the couch and sighs, "I couldn't stay home, my little brothers were throwing tantrums again. It was difficult enough thinking with all their screaming, let alone hear the TV. So, I came here to-"
Before she can finish, the television turns on and swiftly changes to the news channel by itself. I nearly jump out of my seat at the sudden noise and the shock of realizing it is time. To be certain, I look at the clock and realize that it is indeed now 7pm.
"Wow, I got here just in time." Jasmine mumbles to herself, before she looks at me and asks, "By the way, where are your parents?"
"They went to buy groceries and some food to eat." I reply while my eyes stick to the television screen. The news anchor, a woman, sits at her desk, and behind her is a huge screen with a list of names. "I thought the list would be bigger." I say.
Jasmine nods, "During the week, they announced that due to budgeting issues, only people who live near Worthington University would be entered into the draw."
I scoff, "Who knew the rich and famous Worthington University could actually face budgeting issues."
"Money isn't the issue. They just don't want to spend their precious money flying participants in, they'd much rather purchase more acres for their football field." Jasmine said while rolling her eyes, "They talk about co-existing, yet continue to treat us the same."
The nervousness I've been feeling continues to attack my insides, especially at the realization that I'll have a higher chance of being chosen now that they have limited who has been entered into the draw.
Jasmine and I live in a town called Maddens, it is small compared to Alora the city surrounding us, however, within Alora lies Worthington University, a simple 20-minute drive from my house.
