Gray

1

I'm not saying that the whole world - both halves - have to be perfect.

But . . .

I've seen the kids.

The kids who've come from below.

Traumatized.

Dirty.

I could never dream of being one.

To go to the place they've grown up in.

But my world, my world is perfect.

I take a deep breath of my world - the fresh smell, the crisp feeling you can't get anywhere else.

Nowhere but my world.

----

How did I get here . . .

I'm sitting on a bus.

Could it be . . .?

The bus . . .?

Suddenly, I remember - my best friend should be here.

"Scott!" I yell hopelessly, running desperately up and down the aisles, kids my age looking at me like I'm a lunatic.

I look out the window and he's running, with his hand out to reach my hand. Quickly, I open the window and yell back to him, and even try to jump out, but it's too late. We're moving underground.

How could I have Decided this way . . .?

Suddenly, it is underground. The bus takes a sharp turn and we almost tip over. Another and we're falling onto our side.

I scramble, not knowing what to do, and as the bus makes impact with the ground, I tense up my body for a shock of pain, even to die . . .

And I am sitting up in bed, breathing heavily.

I keep having those dreams.

I glance nervously at the calendar on the wall.

Please let there be one more day . . .

I gulp.

It's today.

----

"Big day today, little girl?" My mom pats my head.

"Don't call me that. I'm thirteen," I say. I just look at her, poking at my scrambled eggs. I take a sip of orange juice before saying, "And I already know where I'm going."

"And where is that?" she asks, reaching for a brush for my hair.

"I'm staying here," I say, finally putting a piece of egg in my mouth and chewing.

My mom brushes out a knot in my hair and says, "And what about Scott?"

I stop abruptly and remember my dream. "We already talked about it, we're both staying here." But even as the words come from my mouth, I can't fully believe them.

"Emily? Are you alright?" she asks with worry.

"Mom, what if we end up in different places?" I ask.

"Well, you'll still have all of us, your family." she tells me softly, sitting down and enjoying her breakfast.

I can't eat any more, so I slip on my shoes and I go outside. I take in a breath of my world. My mom comes out with me, knowing I'm done, and together we walk down the street, the perfectly paved and smooth street, until we come into the crowds of people. One crowd is next to a large bus, specifically for this ceremony. These people are representing the underground world. People who hate my world.