Rosemary's Diary
Based on Lois Lowry's novel, The
Giver
A/N: It's an excerpt from
the made-up diary of Rosemary, the one chosen to be a Receiver in training
before Jonas. I used to have this posted under my cousins account because she felt
bad about having so few fics, but I did write it.
December
1
Tomorrow
is the second day of December. That means my ceremony will be tomorrow, and I
will receive my assignment. I am feeling… what is the word?… apprehensive. My
father says that is natural, but I still should not worry. The council rarely
picks the incorrect assignment for a person.
December
2
This
afternoon I felt more concern and fear than I had ever before in my life.
During the giving out of the Assignments the Chief Elder skipped over my
number! At first, I believed that a terrible had been made. Had I mistaken my
number, or perhaps the Chief Elder had made the mistake? Had I not been given
an Assignment?
In
the end, after all the other numbers had been called, the Chief Elder
apologized to me. The reason she had waited to give me my Assignment last was
because of the great honour it held. I was to be the Community's new
Receiver-of-Memories.
I
was surprised! This was a great honour, but I was not certain I was properly
prepared for it. The Assignment involved great pain, pain that I could not seek
relief by medication for.
When
I arrived back at my family unit's dwelling, I looked over my folder. It
contained only one sheet, as compared to some Twelves' who had been given very
thick ones. On the sheet were seven rules. The last disturbed me: You may lie.
Why would I ever need to lie?
December
4
As
I did yesterday, I went straight to the Annex for my training session with
Father- I mean the Giver. Today my training truly had begun, as I received my
first memory.
I
lay on the bed, and the Giver touched my back. He gave me a memory of an
animal, one he called a kitten. Then I received a picnic. I desperately wanted
more memories, but the Giver said not today.
December
25
Once
more today, as I have for the past week, I begged the Giver for memories. I have
enough happy ones now. I believe I should start receiving the truly important
memories from back and back and back. I want the memories that burden him so
much.
However,
the Giver responded identically to every other time. "Not yet, Rosemary.
Not until I think you're ready."
January
7
Tomorrow
will be the anniversary of the day I started receiving. Today, as always, I
asked when I would receive the grave memories. I expected the same answer as
always, but my expectations were mistaken. "Tomorrow," came the
greatly anticipated answer.
Oh,
tomorrow, hurry up! I want to begin taking on my responsibility to my
Community.
January
8
I
will not be long tonight, for I am suffering horridly. I took a memory of
hunger today, and never had I ever felt anything more terrible. My father- the
Giver is a strong man to bear this.
January
14
Today
it was neglect. Yesterday it was poverty. The day before yesterday was fear.
Before that was prejudice. The Giver tries to end my training sessions with
memories of happiness, to lighten the burden I now carry, but I still feel
dragged down by the weight of these horrors.
I
am rapidly losing hope of my ability to continue to cope with these trails.
There is more of the same, and worse, left to come. What if I cannot bear them?
January
17
Today
I received loneliness. To be alone, abandoned, is more than I can shoulder.
I
write this diary entry as I walk along the side of the riverbank. This has been
my special place, where I go to think alone. Imagine, wanting to be alone!
Never again, never again. I go now to the Chief Elder to ask for Release. I
fear Elsewhere significantly less than I fear more loneliness.
January
24
I
am the Giver, the cause of my sweet Rosemary's death. I am finishing her found
diary because I believe it is my responsibility. I gave her more than she could
bear, but she had excepted the responsibility. I wish she hadn't. I could feel
love, because I had gained it in my memories. I felt love for my daughter.
After
her release, something unexpected happened. The memories she had acquired
flooded out into the regular citizens. The emergency has passed now, and we
must begin to think of a new Receiver, for I am aging with every day.
We
will watch one of the Twos very closely, so we do not make the same mistake we
did with Rosemary. Jonas, please grow to a Twelve and a good Receiver.