Author's Note: I have read The Giver several times, and I just wanted to make a sequel. I know there is a sequel published, but I forgot the title. It's called. . .Blue. . .something. Sorry, my brain is kind of dead right now. But anyway, this is rated PG for minor sexual scenes later on in the chapters.

Jonas. It was a name that was to never been spoken of again. He just disappeared one day, and no one in the small community of Sameness knew what had happened to him - except for The Giver. But alas, The Giver did not tell them anything. He said he did not know of what had happened to Jonas. The Giver only told them that he guessed Jonas had drowned in the river.

There was no weeping in the community. People were slightly sad, but there were no tears. They barely felt anything at all. A few cursed him for taking Gabriel, the small toddler with him, but it really didn't matter, they said. Gabriel was to be released anyway.

Time went on and everyone almost completely forgot about Jonas. He was just a wisp of memory. Lily, however, did not feel the same. She thought about him often, but wasn't quite able to experience sadness.

Now here Lily was in the Ceremony of Twelve. She kept thinking of Jonas many years ago, when she was just a little Seven (actually, she was turning Eight on that day) and he was singled out to recieve special training from The Giver.

Lily noticed something odd. The Giver was at the December Ceremony, and he was seperated from the other elders. The last time The Giver was at the Ceremony was when a Reciever was to be chosen, who was Jonas. He rarely attended the Ceremony unless a Reciever was going to be chosen. So could it be that someone would be given the job of a Reciever. . .?

Lily's heart started pounding fast when the Chief Elder started calling up the new Twelves by their numbers to be assigned a special role in the community. Lily's number was number 10, and she watched nervously as number 9 was called up. It was a small boy named Adam, and Lily just looked around absent-mindedly as the Chief Elder gave Adam the role of being a Pilot.

Lily didn't know what she wanted to be assigned. When she was young she yearned to be a Birthmother, then a Nurturer, then an Instructor of Elevens. But here her future was going to be spoken of, and now a pinch in her stomach had formed.

"Number 11." The Chief Elder called up.

Lily's eyes widened. They skipped her! It must have been a mistake. . .Or could it be that. . .

Lily was to be the next Reciever?

'No!' In her mind she screamed. 'This can't be happening! This must be a mistake!' But she could not do anything about it. 'I. . .I'm not going to be the next Reciever, am I?'

Suddenly Lily missed Jonas deeply. It was the most powerful. . .Well, she wasn't quite sure what it was. What were they called? Feelings? She blinked, and suddenly the feeling of loss for Jonas washed away as quickly as it came.

Lily sat there, feeling slightly light-headed. The Chief Elder called up number after number and finally they all been assigned their small roles in the community. The audience stared up at Lily as the Chief Elder finally turned to her.

"Lily. . .I know I have skipped you." There was complete deafening silence from the audience. "I apologize."

"Apology accepted-" She stopped. The thought of Jonas came back. It was as if the same scene four years ago was being repeated, except Lily was in Jonas' position.

"You have not been assigned. You have been singled out to give special training from The Giver. Yes, you are the next Reciever, Lily. We thank you for your childhood."

Lily opened her mouth in shock, unable to say anything.