breaking tradition

rebels in the making

June 20th, one week until the death sentence. Or as its officially named, the lottery. I sit in my room, stressing about who might be chosen. When I moved here two years ago I had never heard of such a thing. A town gathering to choose someone to die by drawing from a box. I know it sounds barbaric, but trust me its alot worse than it sounds.

Last year it was one of my closest friends, mike withers. He was the first person to talk to me since I moved here I'd had the biggest crush on him too , but I knew i shouldn't have . Our town has rules such as "don't get attached" meaning, anyone could die, including your best friend, so it's better to just not have friends at all.

No one really followed that rule until mike died. I mean people had friends they just stopped making new ones., other people just ended their friendships all together , along with other relationships. A lot of people started to commit suicide too, in my opinion they were so afraid of someone else telling them when they would die, so afraid of not being in control, that they couldn't take it anymore. They needed to be in control, so they took control, by dying.

I made a list when I moved here. A list of all the people I cared about. There were six people on my list, Mom, Sarah, Mike, Tara, Maggie, and Tyrese. I told myself that if my list ran out of people, then, and only then I would have no reason to live for anyone but myself and I don't want to live for myself. So once mike was crossed off my list I realized it was like my countdown hopefully Don't run out of people soon otherwise I might make some impetuous decisions.

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May 9th

(one year ago)

"We should do something." mike says out of nowhere. "What?" tyrese asks from across the room setting down his cards in front of him .We're hanging out in Sarah's garage listening to music and just relaxing, well, most of us. "We should stop the lottery!" Mike says provoked as he suddenly stands up from the back of the couch he was leaning against. We all look up from whatever we were doing before, for Tara that was cleaning her nails. "Sh! Mike, lower your voice." "Dude, are you okay?" tyrese asks concerned.

He asks because mike has been really on edge recently probably because in about a month it will be the one year anniversary of his sister's death. Her name was called during the lottery last year she was killed at 26. She left behind her 4 year old daughter, Abigail, and her husband scott. Ever since then Mike has been disgusted by the sheer thought of the lottery ever taking place again.

"Mike is right." I say suddenly not even thinking. Tara glares at me, giving me a look that says both, "Your crazy!" and "Don't encourage him!!" "we should do something." I finish. The room goes silent.

"What has gotten into your heads?!" Tara yells she stands up from the couch to turns towards Mike and stare down to me who is sitting criss cross on the floor

"What's 'gotten into our heads', Tara, is the reality of what the psychotic bastards in this town are doing to us!!" "If we didn't have the lottery our world would be in chaos!!" tara yells

Tyrese stands up and walks over hurriedly and stands at the edge of the couch placing his arms out to his sides and towards Tara and Mike. "Enough!!" Tara and Mike turn from their hateful stare at each other to look at Tyrese

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June 26th, one day before the lottery. I just got done talking with tyrese about plans for the future, which seems silly being our future might end tomorrow but i guess we had to do one final check to make sure the plans were in order

On my way home i check my watch, 11:26. I remember my mom said we were going to maggie's house for lunch so I needed to hurry up and go home to get ready, so I hurry towards home.