Rosemary
It was all too much. The aching throb in my head, the too fast thumping of my heart, the pit in my stomach that threatened to send me over the edge, they all had appeared during the last memory.
A male stood over me, his breath putrid, holding what I learned was a gun to my face, and grinning like a fool.
He leaned in closer and spoke.
"Now, I'll let you go for one thing. Just a little kiss. It won't hurt ya. One measly little kiss, and you can go home to your mother."
I shook my head 'no', as I did not know what a kiss was.
"Okay, doll, your choice."
He bent down even closer, and touched his lips to my neck. A kiss! It all made sense now. Before I could object, he whispered into my ear.
"I'm going to kill you now."
Adrenaline pumped through my body, and I broke out into a sweat. My hands started to shake, and I felt faint. 'Terror'.
But, then I was back. My father's haggard, prematurely aged face was glum and guilty. Something in my eyes must've given my feelings and thoughts away. For now, I wished nothing more than to be away from here, from the community. I wished to be Elsewhere. The only choice I could think of was release…. or was it?
My father loved me, and to leave would break his heart…but still, eventually, he, too, would be released, and we could be happy in Elsewhere together.
I knew there was nothing else left in the community for me. My mother was not understanding of my father and me. My childhood friends, even my best friend, Grace, were distant.
Frowning slightly, I decided. I went to my father, and pressed my lips to his cheek. A 'kiss'. And I left.
Now, I was almost there , but I felt as if I would drop and never wake again. The entire community would perform the Ceremony of Loss, chanting my name over and over again. "Rosemary, Rosemary, Rosemary, Rosemary."
No. I had to make it to Elsewhere. Walking into the Elder's office, I saw a female receptionist smiling at me.
"Yes, Receiver-In-Training?"
"I wish to be released."
She continued to smile, and pressed a button, and an Elder I recognized from the December Ceremonies came forward.
"As you wish, Receiver-In-Training."
I followed him into a private chamber, and he sat me down, and drew a needle from a drawer.
'Oh, dear,' I thought, for I was not at all fond of injections.
…But this could be my experience of independence. The first of many decisions made for me, by me! When I get to Elsewhere, I will be able to choose whether I wish to wear a blue dress, or a red shirt and black pants. I will decide whether for the evening meal to have spaghetti or soup, whether I want my room to be the color orange or the color green! It will be so powerful!
"Receiver-In-Training, would please roll up your sleeve?"
Smiling slightly, holding in a foolish cry of defiance, of independence, of bravery, I replied, "I would prefer to inject myself, sir."
He looked slightly confused, but handed me the syringe. I took it, and, with a rush of exhilaration, I stuck it into my arm.
A few seconds later, as a new feeling I recognized as 'pain' rushed through my body, I knew what was about to happen to me. But it was too late. I slumped over in my chair, and my world went black.
A/N: Written for school. What do y'all think? Review please!