Living on Blue Time

Prologue

From the time we are born there is always a clock. Wherever we go there is always a way to keep track of time. When we are born, the bright blue digital timer embedded in our right wrists is beautifully blank until we are ten years old. From that day on, our timer is counting down from 2555d 23h 59m 59s. Ten horrible numbers counting down until the day of our Meeting, the day when you and your ‘other half’ finally meet.

The clock is always ticking, always moving, unless something horrible happens to your ‘other half.’

There are rumors of another time when we didn’t have timers in our wrists or an undeniable pull towards our soul mate, just our hearts.

I would love to be in that time. To let my heart choose whom it falls in love with sounds like a dream compared to this harsh reality I live in.

But I know that time never exists. If it did, there would be books about it. If it did, then I wouldn’t have to be worried about my timer stopping.

My name is Ray Jane, I’m 17 years old and I have 0005d 03h 26m 31s left on my timer.

And I’m nervous.

Usually, I see girls at this time start to panic and go shopping for new clothes and make up. They get their hair done, their nails painted. It’s like prom, just better because the Meeting is when you meet your soul mate. The person you are meant to be with for the rest of your life.

I don’t know what I’m going to do for the Meeting.

When I was younger I would dream that I would be wearing a long blue and white dress with sequins all over the bodice and my hair curled in gentle waves and my moms golden tiara. My nails would be painted and my make up would be professionally done.

But now, as it gets closer and my mom starts asking me questions about my Meeting, I am leaning more towards jeans and a t-shirt. Maybe even go as far as my hair up in a ponytail.

My best friend, Sidney Tanner, had her Meeting a month ago and I had expected hers to be extravagant and beautiful. But I was kind of disappointed.

She was all dressed up in a long baby pink prom dress and a small flowery headband was carefully placed in her hair. But when her Match walked up to her, I saw her face fall for just a second before she forced herself to look happy. I’m not trying to be mean to her Match but he is not the most attractive person I’ve ever seen. Maybe if he got braces to straighten his teeth, cut his shaggy brown hair, and stood up straighter, he would be fine.

But as Sidney and her Match, Wesley, spent more time together, I could really see that they were meant for each other.

That’s what the timers are for, right?

They tell you when you are going to meet your true love, your Disney Prince, your soul mate.

Some people are embarrassed by their time, so they hide their clock with bracelets and gloves and scarves.

Sidney was like that.

She always hid her clock with her grandmother’s scarf.

I’m like that too.

I don’t want to look at my clock unless I have to.

Like today.