Too Pure To Resist

Isabella

It was a louder morning bell than usual.

It roared through the house today, rattling off the walls and almost toppling my breakfast utensils as it came from the street.

Fortunately, I wasn't in bed, where I would have woken up to such a miserable sound, but I was up early. I detested it.

Marie wouldn't let me act viciously, even if I wasn't. However, I did tend to become grumpy in the morning when I was especially exhausted.

Even though I was exhausted, I was unable to fall asleep. In addition to being the last day of classes, today was also the day for making decisions.

I was giddy with anticipation and anxiety. It got so awful that I almost forgot to kiss Michael and Marie on the cheek before leaving for the school route.

Behind a bigger group of pupils making their way to the school, I strolled by myself. In moments like these, it was always preferable to remain unseen. particularly in the presence of girls like Beatrice.

She was laughing with the girls around her as she walked ahead of me today-girls who used to be my old friends.

However, that was before anything. Before Daniel was exiled and before I rose to the top of Father Lucas's hierarchy.

I anticipated that jealousy would be the cause of the initial taunting and suffering. However, as word of Daniel's actions spread, she was able to fully exclude me from their sisterhood.

However, the taunting had begun much earlier, when we were all carefree kids. She had convinced everyone in the first grade to refer to me as Grams. Before learning what it stood for-grams of fat-I was okay with it. The term had stuck with my classmates, so I sobbed for days and refused to go to school.

And as we were all playing in the field during break, Daniel, the cruel sixth grader, did something horrible. He had gathered a pail of horse poop that had been lying around for days.

We all watched in horror as the excrement sprayed all over Beatrice's face and into her mouth when he tossed the bucket at her, but he didn't stop there. In front of the entire school, he had gone on to refer to her as Waste Face.

When I asked him why he would act so cruelly, all he responded was that I could now go to school in peace because others were too preoccupied with calling her Waste Face to refer to me as Grams of Fat.

Beatrice's condition only worsened when Daniel fled. However, I reasoned that she would now have cause to despise me.

Daniels was assigned to her sister, after all. She was made fun of since she was unable to do her duty after he fled. She was set aside when all the other recent graduates were getting pregnant for The Colony's future.

That was almost five years ago, yet my heart ached for her. She had no cause to be resentful of me. I was not involved in any of it.

Ella, my closest friend, tells me not to pay attention to her, so I attempted to ignore her, claiming that she is simply envious of the attention I receive from Father Lucas. But I'm still bothered by it.

I had no say in the situation. She shouldn't hold me responsible for other people's decisions because I never requested his love and attention.

At that moment, I heard footsteps making contact with the dirt walk. I observe Ella's delicate frame fall into step with me as I look to my left. As we exchange a covert glance, she gives me a little, knowing smile that grows into a full-fledged grin upon seeing my smile.

"Excited for the last day of school?" I joke.

A few classmates notice when my closest friend snorts loudly and rolls her eyes. "If by last day of school you mean the day Father Lucas lets us know what Colleges he's approved for us, then yes."

I adored Ella, but she constantly struggled to control her tone, and at the moment, the students around us were glaring at us because of her loud voice.

I stammer an apology, trying to hide the flush that comes from thinking about all the unwelcome negative attention. I was aware of their thoughts.

Students at The Colony rarely have the opportunity to continue their education past the twelfth grade.

Father Lucas had only ever accepted a small number of pupils to continue their education and attend college, even though we were all obliged to apply; the others remained in the village and carried out their civic responsibilities.

tasks involving labor and/or replication.

However, he had taken on three pupils this year. Among them were Ella and me. Dillan, my assigned, is the third.

"Do you think you got into your top choices?" asks Ella.

Anxiously, I bite my lower lip. If I didn't get into one of the New York City schools, I'm not sure what I would do. I had to be in New York City. "I hope so."

Ella grins and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I know how hard you have been working and praying. Father Lucas will see that and accept you into either NYU or Columbia. Don't worry."

This was the plan for as long as I can remember, so perhaps she is correct.

Daniel had relocated to New York City, so I made sure to apply to institutions there to reunite with him.

Naturally, only Ella was aware of the real reason I wanted to visit New York City. And ideally, they wouldn't have to. Together with Daniel, I would finish my medical college education in New York City before returning home to carry out my duties.

I was aware that it was wrong. Withholding facts or my goals, particularly from Father Lucas, but Daniel had forced me to make this commitment.

Don't tell Father Lucas about whatever you do.

Furthermore, if Father Lucas found out that I was communicating with an exiled member, it would only make him angrier. Not to mention the penalties I would face if he discovered the truth.

They were never enjoyable.

In any case, I wasn't causing harm to anyone.

When we get close to the school building, I shake off the thoughts and turn to Ella. I reprimanded Ella since I am aware of her propensity for forgetfulness and tardiness. "Don't forget we are to meet with Father Lucas in his study for the results after school. Don't be late."

She just dismisses me with a wave. I let out a deep breath as she passes into the building and calls over her shoulder, "Yeah, yeah."

It was a horrible habit to be late.

I wasn't athletic. Not at all.

You would see how out of shape I was by the manner in which I was running as if my life depended on it.

I was having trouble breathing, my forehead was pouring with perspiration, and I was itching all over from the intense July heat.

But because I was running late, I was unable to stop.

I never arrived late.

Richard, a high school student in the ninth grade, busted open his stitches for the third time this week. Since I was the only person on call when he fell, I took care of his wound.

Naturally, I wasn't criticizing our system because it was frowned upon. The fact that I was assigned to first response responsibilities for the entire week as an amateur medic just annoyed me.

I frequently had to improvise because I wasn't qualified to handle half of the incidents I reacted to, and the tension was unbearable.

I also arrived late for the meeting in Father Lucas's study today.

The idea of offending Father Lucas doesn't stop my heart from racing.

I was so anxious that I stormed into the Town Hall, a big white house in the middle of The Colony, without even bothering to say hello to Patty, the receptionist.

It was a big building with many stories. Father Lucas's study and many other rooms are located on the upper level, with the main serving as a banquet area for gatherings and functions.

I dash into the room where three pairs of eyes blink back at me after running up the big oak staircase and turning into the hall that goes to Father Lucas's study.

I immediately connect with Dillan's blue eyes. His typical laid-back smile has vanished, leaving me with a grimace that expresses his displeasure with me.

With a comforting grin on her lips, Ella sits on the couch beside him. She even arrived on schedule.

At last, my gaze shifts to the man in the middle of the space. Father Lucas is seated in a king-sized chair behind his desk. His sharp green eyes meet me as he stands up, dressed in a white dress shirt and jeans.

His comparatively huge frame captures all of our attention in the process. I shudder a little when I see his clean, chiseled face and his salt-and-pepper hair glowing in the light from the glass window.

He appeared dissatisfied.

In a desperate attempt to defend myself, I rush forward and say. I stopped myself from saying, "My sincerest apologies, Father, there was a medical emergency that I had to tend to." I felt that complaining to him would be the most disrespectful thing to do.

"I will excuse it this time. Besides, I can never stay mad at you, my child." Father Lucas exclaims in a loud voice that reverberates across the room as his scowl turns into a smile and he moves forward to embrace me.

With a smile on my face, I cautiously approach him and let him embrace me. I hesitate for a second before settling into his arms, glad that I hadn't offended him.

He lacked patience.