Chapter One

Her family unit did not know about the mirror. Rosemary kept it in the back of her closet, the reflective glass pressing against the back wall. Owning a mirror wasn't against the rules, but there was very little need for one. She remembered finding it several years ago during a trip to another community when she was still a Nine. It had been too large to hide in her hand, but small enough to fit into her satchel. No one had noticed. And even if they had, they would not have said anything.

It may have been because they knew her to be different. And differences were not talked about in this community. Anything that was awkward or uncomfortable was ignored. Like her eyes. They were pale, unlike the darker shades of the other children's eyes.

Blue, she corrected herself quickly. Her eyes were blue. A few times, when she was younger, Rosemary had noticed something different about them. Sneaking glances into the small mirror before she retired for the night, Rosemary had witnessed a change that she could not describe. But now she knew what the change was. Rosemary had seen the color blue, and she was eager to see it again, now that she knew its name.

Lifting the mirror from its hiding place, Rosemary wondered how she had managed to keep it hidden for so long. Once, when she was an Eleven, she had forgotten to take one of her daily pills. CHILDREN OF AGE MUST REMEMBER TO TAKE THEIR PILLS EVERY MORNING, the Speaker had said. Her name was never mentioned, but she knew it was directed toward her. If anything was amiss in the community, it was quickly corrected. If anything was hidden, it was quickly discussed and brought to light. If anyone had seen her take the mirror, they would have said something.

Rosemary held the shiny glass to her face. There it was, in her reflection. Blue. Her almond shaped eyes flickered with the color, then returned to the pale shade of everything else around her. Rosemary shut her eyes, drawing up the memory from yesterday's training session.

Father had given her the memory of a rainbow streaking the sky after a heavy rain. And blue, he had said, lined the bottom. She saw the rainbow's vibrant colors in her mind, smelled the damp grass beneath her, felt the cool droplets of rain drizzling on her skin. All were new sensations for her. Wonderful sensations.

Blue. She found the color and held it in the forefront of her mind, hoping to burn the image there. When she opened her eyes, her entire face lit with a pinkish tone that she had never seen before. Rosemary tilted the mirror towards her, tracing her chin and nose with a finger.

Her hand had changed as well! It held the same pink tone, only it was a little darker. She looked down at her arms, and they were the same color as well.

I must find out the name of this color, she thought to herself, returning her attention back to the mirror.

Rosemary held it away from her, examining her body in the reflection. Her waist curved slightly under her tunic, one of the many changes that had started appearing a few years ago. She gazed at her thin, pointed nose, ran her hand across her small lips.

Red. The color came to her. Her lips were red. And her skin was –

A knock on the door startled her. Rosemary slipped the mirror under her pillow.

"Come in," she said, settling casually on her bed.

The door opened slowly and her mother stepped in, holding a stack of folded garments.

"It is almost time for dinner," she said hoarsely. Rosemary smiled. Her mother was an Instructor of Threes, and was always losing her voice. The Threes were a rowdy bunch until the end of the year, when they finally learned their manners.

"What are you doing now?" Her mother asked, placing the clothing in one of the drawers pushed against the wall. Rosemary shrugged.

"Studying," she lied, feeling the hard mirror press on her back through the pillow.

Her mother looked at her suspiciously. "Well, you had better be down in ten minutes, when your father gets here," she warned, reaching for the door handle. Her mother hesitated and looked at Rosemary. "Did you have a good time today, at training?"

Rosemary returned her mother's gaze and smiled. "It was excellent," she said enthusiastically, eager to share some of the things she had learned. She bit her lip. It was against her rules to discuss her training with anyone, including her mother. "It was excellent," she repeated quickly. Her mother smiled and exited the room.

Reaching under her, she pulled the mirror out and held it up to her face once again. Her eyes were still blue, and her skin held their red/pink tones. Underneath her, the covering cloth was light gray, like the kitten in the memory earlier this week. Across the room, the dresser was brown, like the wooden table during the memory of the picnic she'd received just this morning.

Rosemary laughed. She had done it! Colors were hers, and they were here to stay. She would tell Father tomorrow. He would be so proud of her.