The Soulmate Dilemma

Chapter 2- The Law

          When I was younger I took too many things for granted. My family, my home, my freedom. But the thing I wish I had enjoyed more the most was my childhood. When your young, you just want to grow up. But for what? So that you can watch 18 rated films? So you can swear without people whispering behind your back to say how bad you parents are? Or for the presents you get on your birthday?

         Now I look back at it, it was the stupidest fucking thing I could ever do.

          That was all I could think about when I woke up on my sixteenth birthday. The one birthday I had been dreading ever since The Law was passed through when I was 11. Although, this wasn't just any law that stops people from being robbed or something else of the kind.

          No. This was a law that no one on the news, in the public or even in the government could- or rather would - explain. The day the news broadcasted that meeting was like the day the earth stood still.

That day there was no one on the streets or shops or even at work. Everyone was in their houses watching the live broadcast from The Houses of Parliament. Hearts were it mouths as the speaker stood up from the stalls and announced what they had been planning the past two months. We had all been wondering why it was taking so long. 

I had been seated on the couch with a bowl of strawberry ice cream, with the door locked as to keep my dad and the 3rd girl he had brought home that week away. Not that he would care of course, it was as if all the drinking had numbed what little human he had left in him when mum had left.

About to pick up the metal spoon, the man who looked around in his late sixties started to speak.

"For the past two months, me and my fellow members of Parliament have been having discussions on what we believe is best for this country."

          'Oh piss off!' I remember thinking. At least when I was eleven I had some common sense. The speaker continued:

          "As a result of intense deliberation, we have decided to take the drastic measures of a new life. Beginning the first of October 2072, each girl on their 16th birthday will be selected a soulmate by a council of 6 members in each city, town and village."

          I almost spat out the spoonful of ice cream I had just eaten. I'm glad i didn't. That would have been a waste. Best for the country my arse. How could this do anything for the country? What benefits could this possibly have? I could here shouts of outrage from the other apartments and blocks in the city. At least I wasn't the only one thinking that this was the most shit the government had spat out in a long time.

          "Each girl and their selected soulmate will have to stay together for the rest of both their lives as a compulsory measure. This is the word of your government. Blessed be Harlon and it's people."

          I had never been one to cry, but after that all I could do was lay down on the couch and warm, salty water trickled down my face...

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A/N: Sorry for all the flashbacks i promise we'll get to the present in the next chapter or the one after! Once again pls pls plssssssssss vote on the chapter ty :)