a code four

Trapped. I was trapped in this body since birth. Born without the ability to love. Never able to fully engulf myself in happiness. Only certain people in the sector are able to feel such emotions. Those people are the wealthiest and are put on a higher pedestal. Our kind is forced to date within our own kind because nobody in the higher sector wants to love someone who can never love them back. But even though I have never felt love I still want to. There's programs that we can pay for to get trained and taught how to love. My mom saved up money, and I also got a babysitting job at a higher sector's house. Being around them helped show me firsthand how a normal couples dynamic works.

8:30pm Love Trials Incorporated

All the students that need extra help take the night class. Unfortunately I'm one of those people. Class started at eight and was going as usual, in this class we use mannequins to practice saying things like I love you and other words of affection.

"Attention, Code four." Someone said on the intercom, followed by a siren. I was the only one in the room. The door burst open, I assumed it was my instructor coming back, it wasn't but I recognized him. He was my age and worked on the third floor. His name is Nat.

"Let's go, move to the back." He grabbed my arm.

"What's a code four?"

"There's been a breech, a group of loveless people that couldn't afford the program came in to do who knows wha-," he was cut off by loud bangs, the whole building was shaking.

I fell to the ground. It sounded like bombs were going off right outside the door.

"Hey, look at me!" He told me. Another bomb went off, I screamed covering my ears. He grabbed both my hands and held them. "Focus on me, stay calm." He yelled over the noise. "Nobody has ever said they love me and meant it, I know you can't but please try, I can't go without hearing those words."

I began to cry snatching my hands away, "I'm sorry I can't!"

"Please!" He pleaded. His voice sounded of desperation.

"I can't!"

"SAY IT!"

"I love you..." My voice was low and unsteady, I was apprehensive.

"Try harder, please, don't you understand how much it means to be told that!"

"I. love. you." The words bellowed out of me. We were face to face.

He smiled hugging me, then whispered the words, "you passed Rosalina," in my ear. The noise stopped, my instructor along with a group of people in suits came through the door. I looked at them then back at Nat with confusion.

"This was a simulation, when I grabbed your arm I attached a device capable of reading your emotions. When you said you loved me, you meant it."

Those words kept repeating in my mind as I sat there shocked.

You meant it.