Chapter Text
I expected to be married off soon after coming of age. What I didn't expect was waking up on my 18th birthday to discover my father sitting in the living room conversing with 2 men in black suits. They were from the elite district. I could tell by how clean they were. We weren't dirty per se, but nobody around here ever looked as polished as these men did. We were lucky to get our hands on any clothing that wasn't at least slightly marred, let alone pressed suits without so much as a wrinkle. Upon noticing me, my father stood to greet me. "There's my young lady! Happy birthday Judy!" He hugged me. Though he was trying to appear normal, there was something off about his demeanor today. His eyes had a hollowness to them, and he hugged me way tighter than he normally did. Something was definitely wrong.
"Daddy, who are these men?" As I looked at the menu in suits, they wordlessly stared into my soul. My father sighed and released me from the hug, grabbing my shoulders and looking me in the eye. He looked like he was holding back a tear. "Judith, do you remember last year when your mother and I told you that girls your age got automatically entered into a database?" I nodded, not quite sure what that had to do with anything. There's an official database of every unmarried young woman in the city. We're added to it at 17 to keep track of when we turn 18. Young men have a similar database. Thiers is to monitor to make sure everyone completes their mandatory military service. I'm not entirely sure what ours is for, but I assumed it was for matchmaking purposes. A tear escaped from my father's eye as he choked a bit on his next words. "Kado Prince is ready to take a bride. He chose you."
My heart sank. Kado Prince. Son of Justin and Kaori Prince. An elite. The Prince family was one of the families to rise up and take control after the war ended. I don't know much about them. Just that they get to choose whether or not everyone I know gets to eat. Piss one of them off, and you're as good as dead. That's why I knew that if Kado wanted me, I didn't have much of a choice. My mother was pregnant and bedridden. My father was already having a hard enough time keeping food on the table. If I refused, I'd basically be sentencing my parents and my unborn sibling to death. I broke down in my father's arms. "I don't wanna go Daddy." My father rubbed my back as I sobbed into his shirt. "I don't want you to go either Judy, but what other choice do we have? They're offering enough money for us to put your mother in a treatment facility so that she'll survive giving birth. Besides, they'll be able to take care of you way better than I could ever dream of."
We sat like that for at least 5 minutes, just crying with each other. We were interrupted by the sound of one of the men clearing his throat. "I'm really sorry Mr. Sullivan, but we really must be going. Mr. Prince asked not to be kept waiting." My father nodded and released his hold on me. "They're right honey. You really don't want to keep him waiting. Go grab whatever personal belongings you want to bring with you and say goodbye to your mother." The other suited man piped up. "Don't worry about clothing. You've already got a wardrobe waiting for you at the estate." I nodded. They'll probably be way nicer than the clothes I have here anyway. I walked into my bedroom for what would be the last time. I grabbed my backpack and opened it. I grabbed only the sentimental items that couldn't be replaced. My grandmother's snow globe depicting what used to be Florida, the teddy bear my father made for me when I was a baby, and the sweater my mother knitted for my after she got pregnant. It was my favorite color, green, and had a heart on the left side of the chest. Inside the heart we're my initials. J.S. Although I guess soon that won't be accurate anymore. No. I don't care if I'm marrying a Prince. I am Judith Sullivan, and I always will be. No matter how much paperwork says otherwise.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked towards my parents' bedroom. I slowly opened the door, worrying that if I moved too quickly the tears would start again. My mother was still asleep. I debated with myself as to whether I should wake her. I decided to let her rest. It'll be easier this way. I crept over to her, planted a kiss on her forehead and baby bump, and left the room. I went back out to the living room and gave my father one last hug. "I love you Daddy. Take good care of Mom and the baby." I turned to look at the suited men. "Alright. I'm ready to go." They nodded and led me outside. The sleek black car was out of place around the fixer upper houses and slightly rusted vehicles that made up my neighborhood. Neighbors stared and whispered to each other as the men led me to the car. One of them opened my door and took my bag. After placing it in the trunk and getting into the car, we started moving. I watched my old home get smaller, and smaller, and smaller until it was gone completely. Just like my old life.