“Mom!” I reached for her, pulling her close to me, thrilled with how things had turned out. Just hours ago I was terrified about getting married, but it hardly seemed so bad now that it had been to Joshua.
“I have to talk to you later,” she whispered into my ear as her eyes glistened with tears.
“What’s wrong?” I frowned, not understanding what she’d want to talk to me about. Was she upset with my match? I couldn’t believe that was the case. Whatever it was could wait. It would have to. I glanced around at the other girls from my class. They looked less than thrilled. I was happy, though – nothing could dampen my spirits.
CHAPTER 2
Joshua smiled and opened the door for me as we stepped into our new home. Our families would bring our belongings, though we didn’t own much. The government provided food and furniture. The fridge was perfectly stocked, exactly like the one back home. It was mildly refreshing to feel at ease.
I glanced around – our place was small and quaint – a two-bedroom government issued house. The layout was precisely the same as my childhood home. Everyone in our stature received the same goods, and it was considered fair and right. No one questioned such authority. No one had need or reason to. The government seemed to know what was best for the people. I’m not sure I always agreed by their means, but people in our city had homes and food. No one starved if they followed the rules. It was meant to be fair.
“So, what do you think?” I heard his voice behind me and jumped.
Joshua took a tentative step back to give me some space. I laughed it off, shaking my head. “Sorry. I’m just not used to you being in my house.” In all the years we’d been friends we’ve never once set foot in one another’s home. It was forbidden.
Joshua laughed glancing around. “Well, it’s our house now.”
After a beat, I glanced at him with a faint smile. “My mother mentioned she wanted to tell me something after the marriage ceremony. She might stop by this evening.”
Joshua nodded. “That’s fine. I’m sure she’ll come by before curfew.”
I chuckled softly. “I would expect so.” Breaking curfew meant at the very least a flogging. It was rare for adults to be whipped. Mostly children and teenagers were the ones punished for being out past nine.
Joshua rested his hand on my back, guiding me to the sofa to sit down. It was the simplest and lightest touch, but it sent a shiver coursing through me. “Any idea what she wanted to talk about?”
I shook my head. “She seemed worried to tell me in town,” I remarked. “She’s my mom, though, and I’m sure whatever it was, she had her reasons.”
“Do you think it has anything to do with your father?” Joshua asked and immediately my eyes widened. The thought hadn’t so much as crossed my mind. He’d been gone over a decade.
“I don’t know,” I whispered resting my hands in my lap and staring down at them. I glanced at Joshua curiously. “What could she possibly tell me about him that I don’t already know?”
There was so much I hadn’t known about my father, Gavin Parker. He had died when I was five in a fire at his work. I hadn’t asked the specifics. I was too young to know them when it happened, and talking about it never made me feel any better.
Joshua glanced at me. “Maybe he wrote you a letter before he died?”
“It’s not possible. I mean he died in a fire, Josh. It would have burned with him. Besides, there is no way my mother could have kept something that big from me.” I felt hopeful, though – even just the slightest bit – at the notion he could have written me a letter for the day I got married.
Joshua smiled reassuringly. “I’m sure whatever the reason it’ll be a good one.” He was always so optimistic.
I knew he had to be right. Why give me bad news after the marriage ceremony? It seemed not only unlikely but unheard of. Watching him, I reached out taking his hand, as my thumb brushed against the back of his palm. “Do you ever wonder what it’s like outside of the walls?” He had to feel the same curiosity.
Joshua smiled weakly at me, glancing down at our entwined hands. “I’ve climbed a few trees, but they’re never taller than the gates. There’s no possible way to see over the walls.” He wasn’t the only tree climber.
We only knew what was in the Gravelands from the stories we’d learned in school and the slideshow projection of rotted corpses in the desert. Every year, they showed us new footage to remind us that we were better off inside Genesis and taken care of, protected. Those few that roamed the Gravelands were outlaws, horrible men who would rape and pillage anyone who crossed their paths. You were lucky to die of dehydration or starvation first.
I knew it was impossible to see beyond the wall. Only Monospaces were granted access with permission to return. I had no chance of being assigned this position – Monospaces were always men.
“What else have you done that you’ve never told anyone about?”
Joshua laughed. “Well, let’s see. Do you remember the cow that had red stripes painted on it?”
My eyes widened, remembering Mr. Mercurial’s cow. He was one of the few people who had fresh milk that wasn’t brought in from a neighboring town. One night the cow was completely ordinary, the next day it had bright red stripes painted all over it. Thankfully, the paint washed off, but I had always wondered who had pranked Mr. Mercurial. “You did that?” I never knew Joshua had a bad bone in him.
Joshua laughed, seeing my jaw on the floor. “Well, for the record, he deserved it.”
I shook my head. “The cow didn’t deserve anything. Mr. Mercurial might have, but I can’t believe you did that. I also can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner.” I nudged him.
Joshua grinned, his eyes shining as he stared at me. I shifted my head slightly as it rested against his shoulder. I could smell him as he sat beside me. He smelled sweetly of almonds and milk, and I wondered if his story made me imagine the scent. “Your turn to tell me a story,” he said. I could feel his breath against my skin.
I nodded faintly, but didn’t move from his embrace. It was warm and comforting as I closed my eyes. “Let’s see.” I tried to think of a story that wouldn’t break the banter between us. I was enjoying our time together, married. “Okay, how about this.” My eyes flashed open glancing at him. “When I was six I went over to your house. I wanted to ask if you would come out and play on the swings. Except after I rang the doorbell I was too nervous. I ran off and hid.”
Joshua laughed. “You did that on more than one occasion. I actually remember that. Mom was swearing about some kid playing a prank on us. That was you?” He hugged me tighter. “What were you afraid of?”
“That your dad would answer the door. He scares me. At least he used to,” I admitted. “Then I started asking my mom to come with me. She’d knock on your door and then if you were home we’d go to the park together.”
Joshua nodded. “I remember that. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner.”
I laughed. “Yeah, right. So you could tease me?” I sighed softly and did something I’d only read about in forbidden novels. I leant in, brushing my lips against his. The kiss was soft and chaste. It lasted no more than a mere second before I pulled back.
“What was that, Olive?” He gave me a horrified look and all I could feel was my stomach somersault. I knew romance and love weren’t ever spoken of in Genesis. There was no need when the government knew who was perfect for one another, and children were won by lottery and conceived in a lab. Intimate acts were considered unnecessary.