Desiderium

Chapter One

My name is Eleanor Evangeline Winters, and I have never left my house. Well I suppose that isn't the whole truth. I was born in a hospital, and I also had emergency surgery for my appendix, (which I suppose was in a hospital) though I have no memory of it whatsoever.

I suppose this is a good life though it is a plain one. My bedroom consist of a bed (of course), a desk with my learning wall (a touch screen wall that reads me my school lessons and lets me communicate with my classmates), a closet which is empty but somehow a new outfit appears every morning and pajamas at night as long as I send my other ones back. They almost always look the same dark blue jeans a white T-shirt and sneakers sometimes a jacket but always new underwear and socks.

My pajamas are always black leggings and a white T-shirt with the occasional scrunchie.

Even though I've had this happening for my whole life it still blows my mind. But what blows my mind even more is that I'm about to graduate and that means I'll have to get married in a little over two months to someone I haven't met.

Two months after you graduate from high school you are to be married to someone you are compatible with. Our government pairs you with the perfect person for you. I think it is good we do it like this, we don't have to go through a million relationships looking for the perfect person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life.

My older sister, Aislin got married nearly two years ago, so we are expecting her to announce that she is pregnant soon. You are become pregnant no more than two years after marriage, but it has been hard for Aislin to do so, which worries both her and me, also my mother. We have never met anyone who has failed to have children, so we do not know what will happen to her.

I couldn't imagine being a mother in two years, but I suppose it is the best thing for me.

It is morning and time for me to start school so I go sit at my desk.

"Eleanor Evangeline Winters," I say into my learning wall. It recognises my voice and loads a spinning blue circle indicating my impending connection to my classroom.

I genuinely enjoy and have a desire for learning, which most people don't. I find it unbelievable that some actually dread filling their brains with knowledge.

School is most definitely my favorite part of the day, for it is when I have the most mental stimulation. Sure I can talk with my classmates or family members once school is over, but it isn't quite the same.

I do talk with this one boy in my class who loves to learn almost as much as me. He is more strong willed than I am, and all he wants to do is leave this place. Though he must be careful with how he talks about our world. Though I don't have a problem with it several others I knew have, and after they vocalized their concerns they just sort of disappeared. Averett (that's his name) is very discreet with his criticism. He makes it as if he is referring to a person or a book. It has worked so far, but he has an extremely strong distaste for the government which worries me.

I have a small notion that when graduation comes and we receive our partners, Averett may just be mine. I don't want to get my hopes up, but if they do it by compatibility, I don't think there is anyone else that I am more compatible with than him.