Missing Pieces

The Other Side of the Door

We decided to wait to announce our match. Traditionally when matches meet they march downtown and notify the officials. Once the government receives word, the partners may announce their relationship to their families. The first few months they spend planning the ceremony and organizing living and working situations. Neither of us thought we needed the distraction at this point. We both have agreed on taking our final exams this upcoming week. Hopefully, we will both pass.

My mother has become even more obsessed with my matching since Emery received her calling. Each morning and evening she attacks me with questions. She wants to know if I met him, or what I think he'll be like. I have never felt more relieved in my life. Not only have I found the perfect mate, but I no longer need to focus on my marking. It still burns red and tingles, but supposedly that continuously occurs until the officials end it. I've heard they stick a needle into the center and deactivate the tracker.

Monday mornings usually have me groggy and ornery, but today I prance around the house. Yesterday's events have me overwhelmingly ecstatic. My uniform tampers with my mood slightly. I grudgingly douse myself in the required skirt and blue buttoned blouse. The extra perkiness encourages me to straighten my hair. I focus on lining my eye with my blue pencil. Marli flies into the bathroom and knocks me over. My make up smears across my face, and I end up sprawled out in the bath.

"I am so sorry! I feel so rushed. Monday's are the worst!" Marli's hair has a comb lodged in it. Her blouse sticks out of the back of her skirt, and her day-old make up has run down her cheeks.

"Wow, you look like shit," I giggle as she pulls me out of the bathtub.

"Pretty much how I feel," her eyes well with tears.

"Hey Mar, what's going on?" I place both hands on her shoulders and guide her to the toilet. After removing my askew eyeliner, I turn my attention to her own.

"I just, I just don't know where to start," she tosses her hands in the air, "And I really like this guy at school, but I can't chase him or anything, so that doesn't matter. I have to wear this terrible uniform. I have heard some rumors around town. I just don't know what to believe anymore." She begins to sob.

"What kind of rumors?" I run the comb through hair in attempts to tame the lion tangles.

"Lately, unsettling information has surfaced about the government. People say the matching has nothing to do with fate, that the officials control it all. The final exams supposedly get rigged in order for you to work near your match and falsify a 'happy' living situation. I also heard, but I'm not sure how solid this one is, that our meals packages get tampered with in order to alter moods and physical attributes." Her brows knit together, and she pinches her mouth and nose in.

"Don't you worry about," I reassure her as I lace her hair into a tidy French braid

"Why shouldn't I? This determines my future!" She rests her head in her hands.

"I'm sure these are untrue," at least I hope, "And even if they are, at least we know they work well. We've turned out fine." I squeeze her arm and shoot her a reassuring smile.

"I guess," she tugs at her sleeves.

"It'll turn out alright. Besides, you look beautiful, and you might miss the train." I push her toward the door.

She starts to leave but stops and turns to face me, "Thanks for listening."

"What are sisters for?"

I watch her embark to school. The train pulls up shortly after she reaches the freshly painted bench: this week, a deep eggplant. I choose to skip my meal package and pack a water into my purse. I strap on red heels over my creme stockings. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I lock the front door.

"Goooood morning beautiful," Damon kissed my cheek.

"Damon! Not in public!" I squeal as he pecks at my neck.

"I couldn't help myself," he shrugs.

"Ready for the mounds of final papers today?" I nudge him.

"As long as it means I'll be through with this!" We reach the purple bench and take our usually seats.

"I find it overwhelming and crazy that it's almost over," I tilt my head to focus on his face.

"I know, we've worked for this for so many years," he shakes his head.

I can see Emery chatting up a boy with curl brown hair. His attire doesn't reflect our school's, but it has "uniform" written all over it. He must not live her. I consider the possibility of them as a match, but I know she'd have contacted me immediately if that happened. My mind suddenly flutters to Marli's comment about the secrets.

"Let's go to town tonight?" Damon interrupts my thoughts.

"After seven?" I reply trailing my gaze away from Emery and the mystery guy and return my attention to him.

"Let's make it a date," he winks and pulls me to my feet.

The train screeches to a halt. The massive metal doors pull apart releasing a synchronized series of dings. Pulling my purse onto my shoulder, I step up onto the platform. I peddle through the bathroom conversation throughout the length of the ride.

My hand begins to cramp as I scrawl my way through my sixth paper of the day. I realized if I finish my last two papers, I will be able to review the rest of the week. Damon sits to my left. His blonder hair falls into his eyes while he leans over his desk. He still has five papers left. He caught up to me fairly quickly. He catches me staring and exposes his slightly crooked teeth. A whispered laugh escapes my lips. I immediately throw a hand over my mouth. Our proctor shoots us a deafening glare. Talking could jeopardize our credibility. Damon disapprovingly shakes his head. He jumps directly into writing his essay. In the corner of my paper I outline an outfit for tonight. I sketch multiple hairstyles before settling on half up do featuring a fishtail braid. When I've calmed my nerves and refreshed my brain, I return to my essay.

Within the hour I scribble the last period onto the lined paper. I tuck away my pen and fold up my notebooks. I sling my bag across my chest and walk toward the proctor's station. I neatly align my essays atop the pile she has accumulated. Damon still has a few hours, so I take the early train home.