Page 24 (1/2)

Born Tara Brown 26370K 2023-08-31

"Hey"

"You okay?"

She shakes her head, "No I feel gross I went for testing and they put o It’s like the roos

She sits on the bed and seems off I can see the sway in each of her movements

She lays down and curls into a ball, "I just need to sleep it off"

I touch her arm and squeeze, "We have to leave now You can’t sleep"

She opens one eye "What?"

I nod and pull out the paper and white plastic card, "Louise cae truck is coe was coroans and nuzzles into the bed, "Nooooo Let’s just stay for one et with the plastic ID card, "That’s not all Louise said"

Anna groans and rolls around, "Does it matter? I don’t want to leave Not yet"

Sarah frowns and tosses her apple into the coets down on her knees and looks at Anna at eye level, "They’re ive birth They take your babies at two and then give them to women in the city After three babies they murder you The condos are a lie There is no life in the city afterwards"

Anna licks her lips and tilts her head back to look at me I nod I feel sick I never knew Sarah hen Louise was speaking It soundsfrom the lips of a child

Anna pushes herself up, "Okay Let’s do this" She drinks from the bottle of water next to her "I’ll be okay Just let e drink too and pass it to Sarah

She looks at the apples and cheese on the plate, "I’h

"Louise drew a ot back froe"

Anna nods and rubs her eyes, "Okay"

I feel sick, "There is one last thing"

She looks up at e is where the women are put After"

She makes a face

I stand and walk to the door, "One at a tiarden Don’t make it obvious"

I leave the rooo back as soon as my feet take their steps down the hall Everyat my sides I tuck the paper and card inroo They’re eating, as always They’re wiping sweat fro the exercise room where we run and walk on a track that ainst the e drinks of water with le to miss the cold lemon water

I don’t look at thelass door open and sigh as round It feels like the forest if you close your eyes and let the smell of the wood and trees fill you I slip to the far side of the garden and sarden has turned back when they seetrees I’ve spent a considerable aarden I stand by the door on the far side of the garden that leads to the other side of the dorms

Anna walks in next She walks cluoes and sits on a bench I can see the drugs in her systeoes into the kitchen and takes so Cook smiles and rubs her head Everyone has adopted Sarah She is the only child on our side

She grins and eats the white cheese

She ain She walks out into the garden and shows me her piece of cheese I smile at her I can see eyes onrooiveShe turns away from theand walks into the kitchen She pulls out soirls inside of the kitchen and living rooo to her They seem excited

I walk to the door and open it

"Now"