Resurgent

Chapter 5

            I’ve been out of my coma for only four days now. But in that short amount of time, I’ve learned so much about the new society that has been created. For starters, there are no longer factions and no more discrimination against GDs. Aptitude tests have been banned. We believe in the people’s freedom to discover who they are and what their path is in life.

There is still a large factionless population, but Christina informed me that they’re now referred to as “homeless” because they have no jobs and therefore can’t afford homes. The city has been working very hard to decrease their numbers, though. Susan, an old friend from Abnegation, is a leader of the committee that helps fund shelters and soup kitchens for them.

Most people chose to stay in the city after all of the war stopped, but some travelled outside the gate and started new lives. Frequent contact is made with the other outside cities that were used as experiments, but it was decided not to tell them that they were considered trials. The majority of my friends still live in Chicago, each with their new jobs and new lives. Even Tobias’s father and mother live within the city. I’m surprised that Tobias chose to stay. I thought that he would want to get away from all the memories and start with a completely clean slate. When I asked him about it, he just shrugged his shoulders and said he felt like he was tied to Chicago and didn’t want to leave.

As for me, my body has grown stronger and I no longer have to live on my bed with the computers as roommates. I do, however, have to visit every five hours for a checkup and quick dose of meds. I live with Christina, which is in the busiest part of Chicago. Although it’s always loud, during day or night, the rush helps keep my mind at ease. I don’t know what I should, or want, to do. Everyone keeps telling me that I don’t need to focus on a job right now, but instead just relax and settle in. Before my death, it seemed like I was always wishing for just a moment of stillness. But now that I have it, I don’t know what to do. I feel useless just following my friends or exploring the newly upgraded parts of the city. I need to do something…I just don’t know what it is yet.

I check my watch: 11:50 A.M. I’m supposed to meet Tobias at our usual spot, the metal structure on Michigan Avenue, where we had our first official date, at twelve o’clock. It’s during his lunch break from work and right around my time to get my checkup. Since my Med Room (as I call it) is right above his office, we walk together.

I hop off of Christina’s black leather couch and rush over to my dresser. I haven’t forced myself to go out and get a lot of new clothes, so all of my outfits fit in one drawer. Unfortunately, I open the drawer to find that it’s empty.

“I have got to get some more clothes.” I mutter to myself as I remember that I forgot to do the laundry. I sigh as I realize that I’ll have to wear one of Christina’s outfits for today. She and I have completely different style tastes. Opening up her closet, I am in awe of how many clothes she has. After shifting through her stuff about three times, hoping to find something not too revealing, I give up. It’s already 11:55 A.M. and I’ll have to sprint as it is to meet Tobias in time. I settle with a short, tight black dress that is adorned with a silver, diamond-studded belt. I throw it over my head and slip on my only pair of shoes, which are black and white tennis shoes. The dress is strapless, fully exposing my tattoos and collarbones. I’m not used to showing this much skin and it makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable. I don’t have enough time to change though so I take a deep breath and race out the door. I sprint down the street and turn right, then left, ignoring the shouts of people I accidentally bump into. I arrive at exactly 12:00 P.M. I see Tobias come from behind the metal structure and jog to him. I breathe heavily, still trying to catch my breath, as he smiles and places a hand around my waist.

“Why do you do this every time we meet?” He says before kissing me softly on the cheek.

“Do…what?” I say in between deep breaths.