IV

Happy Birthday- I Guess

Finally, the time had come. From a family of straight 10's, my number was soon to be revealed. Unfortunately, our number did not rate the goodness of our souls, but the appearance of ourselves. My palms were sweaty and I felt like my face was burning, despite the frosty weather.

My phone read 23:59. One minute until I turned eighteen. One minute until my fate was decided. How people treated me, which places I was entitled to enter, which school I was to be accepted into. All down to this number. It didn't just rate my looks, it decided my future. I was sure to get a ten of course. No one in my family has ever gotten below the best. They call us 'The DD (double-digit) Family'.

00:00

It was time. I stared at the mirror, my hand covering my forehead. I took a deep breath, ready to reveal the 10.

4.

What? There must've been a mistake. I rub my eyes. 4. How has this happened? Why had this happened? I thought..I thought I was 'beautiful'.

I sat down on my bed. Four? Four. The number 4, stained on my forehead, revealing my unworthiness. I stared at the wall. What felt like a large stone developed in my throat. I gulped. It stayed. My nose started to tingle and my face felt like it had been lit on fire. My eyes blurred as I started to realise what had just happened. Tears streamed down my face as I screamed into my pillow. I covered my mouth, straining the sobs that were stabbing my throat.

What do I do?

I opened Safari on my laptop.
'Most common future for fours.'
I hit the search button.

'All numbers under five are not to get any further education. They're fate is usually to be sent to rich regions, where they are to become servants. Numbers under 5 are entitled to clean themselves once every 2 weeks. Numbers under 5 most commonly die due to malnutrition or abuse from their masters.'

I stared at the screen in shock. Servant? Abuse? Malnutrition? This was the end. I was no longer McKayla Edwards. I was going to be known as the family failure. My life was ruined.