Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Gemna answers. “Oh, we were just talking about the new Little Sisters and started remembering how silly we were back then.”
Haryet sighs. “Goodness, that was so long ago. And I know people say that all the time, but it really was!” Her eyes go big when she says this, directing them right at me. “Ten years, Clara! Where did the time go?”
Both Gemna and Haryet are blonde and blue-eyed like me. We could be literal sisters. But Gemna is taller and her face is squarer, while Haryet is petite and her face is in the shape of a heart.
The fact that we’re almost always dressed alike really contributes to the whole ‘sisters’ look. We don’t choose our clothes for events. They are chosen for us. And every moment, from this day forward, all the way up to Extraction Day itself, is part of the process. Both for us, who are leaving the Maidens behind, and them, the Little Sisters who will advance up.
I blow out a breath and sink a little further into the cushions. “I don’t know. It feels like forever, doesn’t it? But at the same time, it went by so fast.”
Both of my best friends hum out their agreement.
“It’s just about over, girls,” I tell them. “And we’re not girls anymore. I saw them, by the way. The Little Sisters downstairs in their blue dresses. And it’s really weird to think that this is all over and in just three months we will be free, and rich, and moving on.”
My friends both laugh. Then Gemna gets up, offering one hand to me and the other to Haryet. “Come on, let’s get ready for the gala. There aren’t many left, ya know? We should make the most of these end times. Because who knows, we might spend the rest of our lives being ordinary people. Taking care of husbands, and raising children, and playing cards on Sunday nights like our mammas did.”
Haryet squeals. “Never!” And we both let Gemna pull us to our feet.
But as they leave me and go to their own floors to get ready, I can’t help but think that the boring life Gemna just described doesn’t really sound boring to me.
I hope that’s what my life is. That’s the plan, anyway. I just want to marry Finn Scott and spend the rest of my days taking care of him and raising our family. My mother died when I was twelve, but even back when she was alive, she was sick. So sick, she never got a chance to play cards with the ladies on Sunday nights like the other wives. I wouldn’t mind doing that every week. I wouldn’t mind that at all.
After entering my bedroom, I stop in front of my full-length mirror and stare at the woman I’ve turned into over the past decade. My dress is high fashion traditional. Long, and layered, and made of copper-colored silk and cream-colored linen. I’m wearing a single-strand necklace made of gold that I was gifted on the last Maiden anniversary. My long hair is still a honey-colored blonde, not much different than it was when I first came here.
I touch my face. I don’t have any wrinkles. I’m only twenty-eight, but some aging would be expected, and my face looks just as smooth and unblemished today as it was ten years ago as far as I can tell.
But those blue eyes of mine are different. They have seen things now. They understand this world a little better. They definitely know what’s important and what’s not.
This is when my gaze wanders over to the large adjoining room, which is my closet. That’s where tonight’s gown has been draped over my dressing stand. It’s a beautiful dress made of glimmering champagne silk, with the highest-quality linen, and there are thousands of tiny hand-blown glass beads all across the bodice. And when the sun from my spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows finds the dress, they sparkle in a most magnificent way.
It’s such a pretty scene, I wish that the official photographers were here to take a picture. Something I could keep and look back on. But photography uses a lot of spark, so photographs are only taken at galas and Extractions.
Next to the gown is another stand that holds all the accessories I will be wearing tonight. Every bit of this is donated by the best outfitters in the Tau City Canal District. Right down to the lingerie and the jewelry.
Do I love the fact that I’ve been wearing the best dresses and jewelry for the last ten years? Of course I do. But it’s not important to me. I’ve had my share. It’s time for the Little Sisters to enjoy this lifestyle now. Time for them to show off and for me to fade into the background a little.