The Serum

Chapter One:

I sit in an age old oak tree that has become an eternal home for me and my thoughts. I have spent many nights under its nurturing canopy that reminds me of forgiveness and love. It is here, on its thick, ancient branches that I have learned to cope with whatever life throws at me. If it wasn't for this dear, lifeless friend of mine I have absolutely no idea how I would have survived my older sister Ave's injection. Losing her felt like losing the biggest piece of me. She was my everything. I hate myself for being the next child to leave mom and dad behind because they also went through a thick fog of depression whenever she left us. Losing two children in a three year time frame has to be torture and I have no idea how I'm going to do it when I'm older but I guess I will be a new, stronger person by then so I should fear not. I have only but five measles days till my eighteenth birthday when I will line up with everyone else from my year and receive the serum injection that will change my life forever.

I gaze over the white, picket fence that blocks off the meadow that I now sit in from the rest of the community, and see young children playing juvenile games and enjoying life without a care in the world. At that age they do not yet understand the full effects of the tragedy the serum brings. They are blind to the uncertainty of the years ahead.

Why do the rechid men and women that run the world make us live this way? They raise us with a false sense of security by lying to us at every possible moment and shoving the cold truth down our throats just years before our life will be ceased.

The government officials are crowned with stupidity and I would do anything to make sure that my future didn't rest in their hands of uncertainty.

In all of my seventeen years, I have been a remarkable student. I have accomplished many academic goals and received numerous awards for my studious projects.

In all of my seventeen years, I have learned to drive and received my senior license, which is not normally handed out to anyone of the age of 20, let alone someone of the age of 17.

I guess you would say that I have had it good, maybe even great. I have lived a full life in just a number of years and I have done more than some of our Elders have even done. It pains me to know that my intelligence and my abilities may never compare to how they are now, in the near future.

I look around me and bask in the gloryness of nature and I am I'm awestruck wonder of its original beauty. God truly makes no mistakes and that is the truest of all things. I lean back on the Suprisingly comfortable tree trunk that I sit on and enjoy one of the last sunsets I will be able to watch as Star White. In such an artificial world that we live in a appreciate the natural splendor more than the average citizen.

I am once again, struck by the haunting fact that in a few days time I will no longer be the intelligent, dignified, creative, funny, and a tad bit clumsy Star White. Everything I have ever known will be forgotten and I will be a new, reborn person and soul.

I continue to stare and the majestic sky. It has a perfect strawberry pink and lavender blend gorgeously painted across the atmosphere. Not even Picasso himself could dare to compare to this.

I love nature and I am what one might call a "tree hugger" but I worry that I will never enjoy the birds, the bees, the sunset and the trees as is do today. That's the fault of the serum, they say it makes your life better but the last few days of your old life you spend in agony. They change you. That's sad, but that's also the point. They want us to suffer.

For the first time since we lost Ave, everything suddenly seems painfully real. As depression quickly floods through my mind I find myself unable to control the tears that start to flow from my now bloodshot eyes. I desperately pound my head to banish my mind from the sea of fear that I am now swimming in but the evil that now resides in my head won't leave me alone.

I cry out and my once faint sobs progressively evolve into a violent and uncontrollable "temper tantrum" so to speak. I fall out of my tree and land in the squishy, dirty mud that lies below. I grab hold of my pale, bony knees and rock myself back and forth in a calming effort. I know that this won't work out for the best and that my future is obviously damned. I clench my teeth and lay down in a mixture of leaves, twigs and mud.

Too weak to return to my oval, I decide that mother nature will suffice as a bed for the night. I rub my tear filled eyes with the sleeve of my now, stained shirt. As my eyes come to a close I pray that my last week will be lovely and worth remembering even though it must be forgotten. I dwell on that thought in my dreams.

*****

I cautiously roll over onto my aching back. My black hair is matted to my head with sweat and the smell of death pierces the senses with a sharp, disgusting, sting. I force myself to take the five minute journey back to my oval.

When I finally reach my destination I stare inside and watch mother frantically scurrying about the dining area tossing her hands in the air and waving them around and screaming at my dad. Assuming they are worried about me, I run as fast as possible with an unfortunate limp until I reach the door.

As I step through the circular doorway, I see two Officers sitting on our light green couch. They give me an alarming look that disturbs me on all levels. "Mr and Mrs White. We have found your daughter." Says the tall, black man. Suddenly, a panicked duo come rushing into the living space and I am nearly tackled by the loving embrace that embodies my mother. I slip my long arms around her chubby waist and I stick my face on top of her shoulder blade and I become lost in her overwhelming sea of blonde hair.

"Star, what happened to you last night? Your mother and I were worried sick and we called these Officers to help us find you!" My dad shouted, sneaking his way into the now, group hug. When I finally break free of the embrace I take a small step back. "I'm so sorry. If I would have known that you were so worried I wouldn't have spent the night in Meadow Grove. Mom wipes her tear stained eyes and nods her head slightly. "Okay sweetheart, we just thought you had run away because we know how much you ummm, well, disagree with what will be happening in four days." Mother whispers in concern. I laugh.

"Mom, please. I know there is no way to escape the serum and I'm bot going to run away, because if I do I will ruin my future and be forced to work in a lower class and I do not fancy that idea." I say. "So can I go to the cleaning chamber? As you can see, I am a hot mess." I ask. "Of course." Mother says as she dismisses me.

I tip toe along the vinyl hallway floors and stare at the family photos hung upon our metallic walls I eventually come across the last picture that was taken of me and Ave, three days before her injection. She looks so happy and care free and I can only pray that she enjoys her new life as much as she did the last.

I trace the curves of her face with my trembling finger, outlining every crease in her forehead and incredibly defined cheek bones. I am memorized by her gorgeous, long, blonde, locks of hair and her red, rose bud lips. I will forever miss her. Sadly, forever isn't as long as it should be.

I shake my head, convincing myself to forget all if the pain and then proceed to my private cleaning chamber. I lazily strip down my soiled clothes and I go to the other side of the cleaning chamber and reach inside of the shower curtains to turn on the nozzle. I hop in and soak myself in the soothing, warm water. After last night I really needed to freshen up. As I stroke through my short, tangled hair with a large amount of shampoo, I start to see a large pile of leaves and sticks collecting at the drain below. The scent of luscious strawberries fill the air and my pain vanishes.

I step out from under the faucet and begging drying myself off. I reach for the cabinet above the toilet and pull out some metallic tights, a plain, black v-neck, a pair of underwear and a strapless, black bra. I quickly pull all of these things onto my body and then reach underneath the sink for some hair care products to fix the mess that I call hair. I brush and dry my hair as I style it into its traditional pixie cut doo. I once again reach above the toilet and grab my old high school sweatshirt that I recieved freshman year, and then I headed to my sleeping chamber.

I press the button that opens up the hatch that grants me access to my sleeping chambers and run across the room and pounce onto my four poster bed and I decide to catch up on the sleep that I lost last night on the uncomfortable earth.