I wake up angry and full of regret. I wish I could forget, but it drags into my life. I groggily stand up, and stumble into the bathroom. I change into a dark shirt and jeans. Smart enough. Mum knocks on the door and greets me with her kind smile.

"are you OK?

I nod, feeling sick.

"Look," Mum says, "no matter what you pick today, just remember that I'll always love you."

I smile. Mum used to be in Amity, but her words made my head spin. What now? Does she want me to leave? Does she know I'm Divergent?

I walk down the stairs, looking at the family photos. Pictures of me and Zeke, Zeke passing initiation, and my mum and dad. How could I leave this world behind?

"Do you want food?" Mum asks.

"I'm fine."

"OK, well you should probably get ready, we can get the early train. Ezekiel!"

Zeke stumbles downstairs and slumps on the kitchen table.

"Come on," Mum says, "have some breakfast, we're leaving soon."

"Mmmmm"

I sit, staring into space. Thinking. Why isn't this choice a nobrainer? How could I think about being Candor? But I was. I imagined myself, dressed in black and white, surrounded by bigmouths, being one of them. I shudder at the thought.

"hey," Mum says, a hand at my shoulder. "don't ruin yourself with this." How can't I? This is my future.

"OK," Zeke takes his jacket, "let's go."

*

We take the lifts. I watch the Abnegation march up the stairs through the shiny glass. So unicent. So emotionless. With a ping, the doors open and we pile into the ceremony hall. Volunteers sort us into alphabetical order and I sit nervously. An Abnegation begins another boring speech and I zone out. They're all the same. How we made the factions to avoid war and now The city is in perfect harmony.

The names started to be called. Almost every child called stayed in their faction, except for the two before me. Siblings, in Abnegation. The brother, Caleb Prior, picks Erudite, Abnegations enemy. I imagine how the other stiffs feel. Traitor, most likely. The girl, Beatrice, picks Dauntless. I smile.

"Uriah Pedrad."

I stand up determined. The knife is passed to me. Its unfamiliar and cold. You aren't Candor, pick Dauntless, it's your home. Another side of me nags. Were you Divergent for no reason? No. Maybe being Candor is what you need. The Abnegation girl. She must have wanted to be Dauntless to change. Am I that brave? If I am, I am Dauntless. But if I'm not, I shouldn't be.

Come on, just choose. I suddenly become aware of everyone waiting for me. Shakily, I slit my palm. The cut stings more than I thought it would. I breath out and set my shoulders. I will be brave. I will be Dauntless. I stick out my hand. Blood turns the coals bright red as I join the end of the line. I smile as Lynn come towards me.

"Yay," she says, beaming. "Now all we've got to do is pass initiation."

I look around as the last name is called. I look at the red hands, raw cuts. The sacrifices that we have all taken. But now, this is our home. People start to file out as we head to the stairs. The second we leave the hall, look at Lynn and we start whooping, and cheering. The other Dauntless join our cheer as the transfers look around, confused. I laugh. I so belong here. I could have changed my faction, but I didn't.

And I just hope I made the right decision.