- Journey -

I'm warm.

Soft comfort all around me, with the light smell of roses.

It's so hard to get out of bed like this, especially when I am then dropped back into reality of what day it is. It's Journey day. My muscles tighten, my eyes go dry, my tongue tasteless. I've been dreading this since I turned 16 last month.

"Cleo! ITS JOURNEY DAY!" My mother screams from the other room. She sounds excited and confident that I'll get through just fine. I'm going to miss her so much. My mom has always been my best friend since I didn't make friends with other people easily. We both understood each other and had a special bond. Leaving her and not knowing if I'll come back hurt so much.

I lay in my bed, trying to soak up this last moment of peace, comfort, and familiarity. I let one tear fall. Then get up. We are all given one grey bag to take with us that we can fill with whatever we feel is most necessary to survive. I packed dried foods, hydration tablets, a hatchet, flint and steal, a small tarp, and a winter suit that I barely managed to stuff in there. Standing, I scan my room for the memory of this place.

The roses my mom grow stood in a vase on the nightstand directly beside my bed. Next to it was the one window, facing the wall of another apartment. Moving on to my other wall was my small desk that had my survival bag on top. On the same wall, my closet for clothes. The forth wall of my room held my door, I stop scanning there and stare for a moment. My life was going to change forever.

I go to my closest to put on my Journey clothes that I had made sure to set aside last night. I wore a grey halter top with forest green army pants. I tightened the lace on my black hiking ankle boots, braided my hair, and then put the survival bag over my shoulder. I opened my door to be immediately embraced by my mom. Through tears she says,

"I know your going to struggle. But that is the point. You are going to go through pain physically and emotionally, but when you come out, you will be a better person without a doubt, and I'll be there when you return to embrace you again."

I stand stunned, unable to say and thing back to her. As she hugs my close and tight, slightly shaking, I rest my forehead on her shoulder and cry. I'm so scared.

She lets me go after I've calmed down a bit.

"You're going to make it Cleo, I just know it." She was even able to say it with a smile. I love her so much.

I still need to finish getting ready. I go to use the bathroom. I brush my teeth and pack what I use along with extras along the side of the bag. I really hope stuffing it this much won't get me in trouble. I take one last look at myself in the bathroom mirror. I'm pleased with my looks. My long red hair let the braid length to my mid-back. My skin is the color of sand, and I don't have acne issues. My blue eyes contrast with my red hair, making my genes extremely rare. From birth we are all trained in good health and survival, so the halter top shows off my strong arms that aren't bulky but lean. My smaller B cup chest let's me do things more easily than heavier girls. I'm happy with how I look now, wondering how messed up my appearance will become in the Journey and when I'll be able to see myself again.

I go to the main room, my mom is waiting for me at the door to take me to the city departure zone. She put on her nicest outfit, curled her hair, and even put on a little makeup.

We were ready to leave.