Chapter 1: Uncommon Greeting

Memory is going through her meager possessions, packing them into a small bag. She’s allowed to leave now. The doctors have deemed her cured. Not like she was sick in the first place. No, she was never sick. There was never anything wrong with her. It’s just been the turn of events that’s caused her to act this way…

She shakes her head, zips the bag. The doctors have warned her not to think of the past. If she does, she’ll have to stay for more treatment. She certainly doesn’t want that. She can see her hands are trembling just at the thought…

But she can’t help but think back. How can she resist? That time was the one time she’d been happy. She sets the bag down, sits on the bed, and begins to think back. Only for a minute, she warns herself. Or the doctors will get angry…

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Memory had lived in that house all her life. It was a white, two story house, like all the others. Every house in the world looked like hers. This was something that The Administration, the power that regulated every person’s life in the world, made sure of. Their motto—Perfection and Uniformity are the keys to peace and ultimate happiness. Thus the world was Uniform, and people’s lives were Perfect.

She had a mother and a father and a brother, younger by two years, like all other sixteen year old girls. She also had a female dog, brown and white. It was named Sandy. There were lots of dogs in the world named Sandy.

It was a major event when someone moved in next door. The house had not been occupied by anyone as far as Memory knew. Her parents were surprised as well. They went out into the yard to greet the new neighbors.

It was another family, which was to be expected. Families always lived next to families. It was the law. There was the mother, the father, the older son, who was sixteen years old, and the younger daughter, who was fourteen.

“It is nice to meet you,” Memory’s mother said politely, shaking the other mother’s hand.

“And you as well,” the other mother replied. Common greeting.

“Welcome to the neighborhood,” Memory’s father said politely. Instead of shaking hands, he put his right hand on the other father’s left shoulder.

“Thank you for receiving us,” the other father said, repeating the gesture. Common greeting.

It was Memory’s turn. She knew what to do.

“My name is Memory,” she said to the older boy with a little bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“My name is Bind,” the older boy replied, also bowing a little. “I hope we will become good friends.” He looked into her eyes. She felt some sort of delighted chill zip up her spine. She shivered. His eyes were a pale green. In them, she could feel emotions she’d never felt before. She looked away, shaken. Uncommon greeting.

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Memory pulls herself out of her thoughts. She wants to live in them, but she knows she can’t. The doctors won’t allow it. There is a knock at the door. Memory opens it. There stands her doctor, Dr. Odium. His glasses sit daintily on his nose, but his glare is hard and sharp. He gives her a cold smile.

“Sit down, Memory,” he says. “I want to have a talk with you…”

Thanks for reading! Please drop a review. I would really love to know what you think of the first chapter of my story. As always, constructive criticism is welcomed.

-Lefty