Ellie

Due to a declining population and a trend of descending IQ scores in the general population, the government has instituted a mandatory population control program. All universities will be required to gather a group of students who meet a specific, high-level set of intelligence and physical standards. The group will be paired up according to compatibility, given an apartment and a stipend, and must produce and raise at least three children. It is pairing day and the group has gathered to be paired with their partner. I'm sitting here among the chosen. An honor, or so we have been told. We will be the ones to lead the country to a better future was the promise. And we are all here waiting for our names to be called and find out who are partner will be. The person who we will be spending and sharing our lives with. I look around the room and the emotions seem to be running the gambit: Excitement, fear, nervousness, resignation, and curiosity among them. Me, I'm among the curious. Wondering my partner will be