The Heart Lottery

I’d been dreading this day my whole life. Well, at least once I was old enough to be told what would happen the 16th year on the date of my birth. I can’t remember exactly how old I was, but it was somewhere between six and seven. My mother made it seem almost like a fairy tale. It wasn’t until I got older that I discovered the grim reality of it all.

We lived in what was left of America. Most of the buildings had long been destroyed, letting nature reclaim the deserted land. There weren’t many of us left after the apocalypse. No one remembers what happened, but I always enjoyed going off with my friends to see what we could discover in the ancient ruins. Most of it had already been picked clean.

The metal workers used all the scrap they could find to melt down and make the solar powered carts we used to get around as well as reinforcing the wall around our colony. We were a small group, but we did still have a few remnants of modern technology. Luckily, most of us are from a long line of geniuses. My friends and I have speculated that our ancestors survived because they were smart enough to build a shelter underground to avoid the fallout. It’s too bad they didn’t stay underground.

The mail carriers use the carts to make sure we all get our mail. We don’t have money but instead use a trading system, the value of the objects being agreed to by our elected officials. Every week there is a central market, where everyone with something to buy or sell shows up to get what they need for the upcoming week. We have farmers and butchers to make sure there is enough food for everyone. Things might not be like they used to, but I’ve mostly been a happy girl. At least until this time last year, and more so today.

When humans mostly died out, a new breed of predator took their place. Many of my ancestors died due to this new breed, until a way was figured out to appease them. There are no drawings or descriptions of what is known only as the beast, but they apparently go into hibernation for most of the year. When they awaken, they are hungry. Every year all the children in the colony who have reached their 16th year must draw a random item from a secret box. Whoever draws the heart will be sacrificed to the beast.

Apparently, the heart object changes every year, since the unlucky teenager gets to take it with him or her. Last year’s heart was a metal paperweight and was drawn by one of my best friends, Luke. I’ve sorely missed him since he went away. It wasn’t until then that I truly realized what it meant to draw the heart. No one but the 16 year old kids and the elected officials are allowed to view the drawing, but I snuck in, hoping against all hope that he wouldn’t be so unlucky. He’d cried as he held that paperweight, and I cried with him.

The last year has been the saddest of my life. I loved Luke with all my heart, but I had to stay hidden as he carried that heart with him to the wall that surrounded us. He only looked back once and our gazes met. He kissed the heart and held it up above his head. Then he disappeared into the night. I’ve often wondered if he was scared as he met his fate, or did he try to bravely fight them off? I would never know.

My birthday just happens to fall on the day of this horrible lottery. There are 8 others who are my age now. We’ll all go to the arena and draw our objects. I know my chances are just over 11% I’ll draw the heart.

I don’t fight or fuss as I head to the arena. My parents hug me with somber expressions. They wish me luck, but they know this might be the last time they see me. I try not to cry as I kiss them goodbye and leave with only the clothes on my back.

The nine of us stand in a circle around the box of objects. The elected officials explain what we need to do and what will happen when the heart is drawn. There are only 9 objects in the box. It’s a blind draw, and we won’t get to look and see which item we have until all of us have picked one.

I avoid looking at any of the others, knowing two of my friends are here with me. I know if I meet Sara’s gaze, I will start crying, so I look at nothing but the box. When it’s my turn, I look inside. There are six objects remaining, and they look the same. Each object has been placed inside a small bag. I tentatively reach in and grab the one farthest from me. I clutch it in my hands, but I don’t dare try to feel for an outline with my fingers.

Finally, the box is returned to the middle podium, and I raise my gaze to the officials. They nod in unison, and we all work on opening the bags. My hands shake, and I slowly pull it open. So far I’ve only heard gasps of relief, but I keep looking at the bag in my hands. It’s finally open and I upend it so the object falls into my open palm.

At first I can only smile at the lovely heart pendant. It’s clearly been cleaned and polished, and I hold it up to see my reflection. I open it to see a very old tiny photo of a boy. Where could this have been found to be in such good shape?

My friends start to cry, and I look at them to see them staring at me in anguish. I suck in my breath, suddenly realizing I drew the heart. I would be following Luke’s path outside the safety of our colony. I sigh and slowly nod. It seems fitting, since I always expected to follow wherever he led.

The others are excused, and I smile at my two crying friends. They hold each other as they’re ushered out of the arena. I barely listen as the officials instruct me to head out to the one locked opening in our wall. I say nothing as they escort me, wishing my end be quick and painless, calling me a hero so our colony can continue undisturbed for another year.

I head out, never once lifting my gaze from the photo inside the heart locket. I pretend it’s Luke in the photo, since there is a likeness.

“I love you, Luke, and I’ll be with you shortly.”