Writing Prompt:
No one ever comes back if they stray past the border. What lies beyond is unknown.
No one ever comes back if they stray past the border. What lies beyond is unknown.Caleb sat at the edge of the river looking across it's torrent gray waters to the dark forest beyond it. A forest so dense that no light could enter. It was a protective border the elders told them. But Caleb often wondered what was really out there. All they would say is that those who cross the river never came back. Caleb would often sit here with his charcoal and sketch pad drawing everything he saw; animals, fish, birds, trees. That's all there was to draw except there was one other subject Caleb loved to sketch.
"Caleb," Willow called to him, bringing him out of his daydream. Caleb looked to see the town's most beautiful girl smiling at him. She had brown hair that held strands of bronze in the sunlight and eyes as blue and bright as a spring sky. Skin like porcelain with cute tiny freckles across her nose like stars in the Milky Way. Caleb had dark skin like chocolate with dark eyes that saw every detail. Willow sat down next to him on the large rock, their arms grazing past one another causing Caleb's heart to quicken.
"You out here again?" she asked with a large smile.
"Best spot in Providence," Caleb grinned. Willow looked over to see that her childhood friend was drawing...
"Me?" Willow nodded towards Caleb's charcoal drawing. "No foxes or squirrels that catch your interest?"
"There are plenty of foxes and squirrels but there's only one you," Caleb smiled. Willow tucked her long flowing her behind her ear, face flushed bringing more color into her cheeks. Even on a cloudy day that looked like rain Willow managed to brighten the river bank. Everything else in Providence looked so grey and dull. Everyone wore drab colors except on Founder's Day.
"Don't you ever get tired of drawing me?" she asked shyly.
"You're the one thing I never get tired seeing in this gray place," Caleb answered boldly. They looked into each other's eyes. Nothing else existed except for them. All sound melted away except their two heart beats. In a swoop Caleb kissed Willow's plump pink lips. Waves of warmth like ripples washed and spread over them. There was an equilibrium in the world until Willow stopped it.
"We can't," she said quickly but her heart wouldn't stop pounding. They sat in awkward silence that grated their souls.
"I hate this pairing bull shit," Caleb spoke in frustration. "Why can't we choose our own partners?"
"Because that's how it's always been," Willow explained more calmly. They stood and faced each other.
"Providence survives because our mates are chosen so there's no fighting," she continued but to Caleb it was like hearing a record on repeat. "Don't you like Harmony?"
Harmony was Caleb's match. She had mocha skin, pretty blue grey eyes, and high cheek bones with short curly hair. She was pretty but Harmony wasn't the girl he wanted.
"In 2 days we'll all be 18 and then we'll be paired off," Willow's eyes glazed over.
"You're telling me you like Bram?" Caleb asked. Bram Garcia was more or less the golden boy of Providence. He was dark haired with green-blue eyes, an athletic figure, and bronzed skin. He won in every race and was the first to dance at every party. All the girls wept when they heard Willow was chosen to be his mate. Willow looked down at her shoes, hoping the answer would be there.
"What if we could go away," Caleb took Willow's hands in his. "We could get out of here. There has to be more than this since the Disaster."
Willow's blue eyes widened in horror, "There's nothing out there. Nothing but monsters and raiders. There's no law out there."
"Better than what we got here," Caleb insisted. "Come with me."
Willow grew quiet, which gave Caleb hope. But Willow said, "We should get back before the service starts..." Willow slipped through Caleb's grip leaving him on the cold river bank with it's raging waters.
* * * * *
Service happened in the town chapel. It was a simple one with stained glass. The only thing Caleb liked about going to service was seeing the multicolored lights reflect in the church.
Reverend Pine addressed the congregation with his usual broad grin that showed all of his perfect teeth. He was always so cheerful. Willow was his daughter but she looked more like her mother Elen who was also once the prettiest girl in Providence.
"Citizens, friends," Pine addressed his congregation with his booming voice. "In 2 days this town will welcome it's new generation of couples who will carry on our legacy. Each couple has been perfectly matched based on their compatibility and genetic make up that will make the next generation more robust and healthier. Mixing the races unlike so many ancestors who thought it was unclean turned out it was more pure to procreate with those of others more different than themselves. It is because of this tradition that we have survived unmolested by not only godless, misbegotten raiders that are cursed to walk the wastelands alone and without salvation but also from those inner demons that plagued our town long ago when we allowed ourselves to choose as individuals." The congregation nodded and made sounds of approval. "That led to jealousy, hatred, and competition but also it left some of our citizens left out because they were deemed unfit by some to be with others based simply on their appearance. But not anymore... we have not had one bachelor or bachelorette in this town in 50 years."
The congregation applauded. Caleb only watched Willow who clapped politely with her pink mouth slightly upturned in a smile. She sat next to Bram who couldn't stop smiling, which made Caleb want to punch him.
* * * * *
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