The day was actually here.I looked up at the wall clock above my bedroom door.The hands read 6:30.

My stomach sunk and an urge to vomit suddenly ravaged me.

I rolled over onto my back and stared up at the white ceiling.It used to be covered with 'glow in the dark' star stickers when I was younger but they had long since been removed.I wished that I had stayed at that age forever.7 years old,no care in the world other than what dinner would be or if my favorite cartoon was up next on TV and completely oblivious to the terrible world we reside in but those days were long since gone in the passing of time.

I heaved a sigh and I felt tears on the brink of falling but they never came.I had cried for days on end and I felt like I'd dried up completely.

I debated whether I should try to go to sleep but decided against it.I hadn't been able to sleep for the past three days and although I of course felt exhausted I just couldn't knowing what today was.I never slept thinking that somehow if I didn't I'd have more time before I'd have to get out of bed today.

But here it was,real as my own existence. It was Ranking Day,all around the world people my age would be taken to Testing Facilities to be given stupid numbers to determine their stupid lives.It was sick really but 'necessary' as we're always told. Everything plays a factor on how high and low you are in the rankings.

Got crooked teeth?That brings you down a bit,you have a weird looking nose?Whoops sorry you're going to have a terrible life.

Although I do know this is bad for everyone I've come to learn that girls have it much much more worse.It's very rare that girls make it past a 7 for some reason and I still don't know why.I'd bet it's rigged so girls never get to be in the big leagues.Some people say it's because girls are also checked for how appealing their 'assets' are if you get what I mean but that's mostly speculation.

Then comes the actual test,again no one knows much about it since those who've gone through it are sworn to secrecy so none of us have gotten enough information to know what this supposed 'test' comprises of, all we know is that it somehow determines how smart you are.

So basically at the end of the day you could be given a decent ranking if you're either super smart or super pretty.Some people are lucky enough to have both and go super high in the rankings.

I rolled out of bed and decided to go take a shower so I could start getting ready for school.Apparently we would be taking some kind of 'IQ test' at our schools.Those in places too remote to have schools are taken to public places to have their own kind of test so yes there is no escaping this whether you're the child of the richest person on earth or some kid starving on the other side of the world.

I showered and covered myself with a towel before heading over to the sink to brush my teeth,careful not to look at my reflection in the slightly stained mirror.

I'd been avoiding looking at myself for the past month if possible because I knew if I caught sight of myself I'd immediately start questioning whether my appearance is considered 'good enough' and have a mental breakdown after.

I tried to brush my teeth quickly so I could get as far from that darn mirror as soon as I could.I could see an outline of my reflection in my peripheral vision and the urge to look at myself became overwhelming.

I clamped my eyes shut and spit out the water into the sink before basically bolting out of the bathroom.

I stepped out back into my room and noticed the thin rays of sunlight fighting their way into my room.Spring had only recently started but it sure knew how to make an appearance.

I hadn't seen the sun rise this early in months and the weather was amazing.The sun shone brightly and made it seem like it was about to be the best day ever.

It shone in all it's glory as if not knowing what the day held.I checked the time on my phone again and realized it was already seven am.

I picked out my clothes for the day which were the definition of plain.I wore the same outfit almost everyday,it's disgusting I know but it's a habit that had stuck with me from when I was 14.I wish I could give it up but old habits die hard I guess.

I cringed as I remembered walking down the school halls in the same outfit everyday because I was going through my 'LOOK AT ME I'M NOT LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS,I'M SO DIFFERENT' phase.I thought it would attract guys but all it did was make me get bullied by the other girls and looking back I would honestly bully me too.

I pulled on my clothes with minimal effort and picked up my backpack which was lying in the corner of my room.Would I even need a backpack?

I walked over to my door and raised my hand to the doorknob resting it there for a second knowing if I go past this point there's no going back,I probably won't even see my room ever again.I took a deep breath before opening my door and heading downstairs.

The smell of bacon wafted throughout the entire house and I almost felt as if my day was the least bit better.I was like that with food my whole mood would do a complete one-eighty after a good meal.

I walked into the kitchen and sat on a chair by the counter.My mom had her back to me concentrating on her task which was now making the best breakfast in the country.She was a really great cook and I'd always thought she'd have been able to pursue cooking and become a full time chef if she'd have been given a higher ranking.

My parents were both 6's and by birth I was as well,but not for long.I watched as her dutiful hands rushed all over the place,not even acknowledging my presence.Her blonde hair which we both shared was in its regular loose bun.She'd had a rough time too leading up to this day she could somehow not cope with the fact that soon she would probably have to let me go but I never thought about that happeningI tried to stay optimistic,telling myself that somehow I'd wind up as a 6 as well I already had enough on my plate worrying about The Test itself so I didn't need the constant fear of getting separated from my family hanging constantly over my head like a dark cloud.

"Good morning mom" I waited for a response that I knew wasn't coming.I sighed,it seems she's worse today although I expected it,it hit me hard like a blow to my chest.This might be my last day at home and my own mother won't talk me.

My mom's like that most of the time she's a ray of sunshine trust me but if things got too stressful for her she always reclined into her own little dark world.She really scared me when she was like that, no life at all in her usually vibrant eyes.Sometimes she completely stopped eating or went away to some...place for days.

That's why I like my dad over her.I sometimes felt guilty over thinking this but I've come to terms with the truth.Although my dad was sometimes hard on me at least he was reliable, I knew I'd always be able to fall back into his arms if shit was hitting the fan unlike my mom who completely shut us out whenever.

I sat in silence knowing any other attempt at starting a conversation was completely futile.My dad walked into the room breaking the tension that hung in the air.He's like that always brightening every room he walked in.

"Good morning Ela" he said as he walked over to give my mom a kiss on her cheek.Even then she didn't give any reaction. "Good morning dad" I said to him as he came to sit next to me.

My mom was apparently done cooking because as soon as my dad sat down she came over with a giant frying pan and poured it's contents onto the plates in front of us.She went over to the stove and brought another pan with two eggs and did the same.

Without missing a beat she threw the pan in the sink and retreated upstairs up to their room. "Is she not eating again?" I asked my dad in a tired tone "Yup" I sighed for what seemed like the tenth time this morning.

She always does this, does she not see that we're hurting too it isn't exactly easy for me either so why is she being so selfish.

"Go easy on her she's been through a lot" my dad said as if reading my mind.He started munching on his food. I'm going through a lot too but she doesn't seem to care  I wanted to say but I kept my mouth shut.I didn't want what was probably my last day at home to start with me trashing my mom and arguing with my dad.

We ate in silence,none of us wanting to acknowledge the giant elephant in the room.I almost thought we wouldn't address it until my dad opened his mouth to speak "So...the test huh?" he said now fully looking at me instead of his breakfast.

"Yeah the test," it had been a while since I talked about it with either of my parents so it came as a sort of shock when my dad brought it up.

"It'll be fine do your best and you're naturally beautiful so that won't be too bad" Do your best please...there's nothing to 'do your best' on it's all up to how you were born basically pure damn luck on which traits you got and if they were good enough.I was waiting for him to say it, to address the fact that we probably won't ever see each other again but he didn't seem like he was going to anytime soon,so I took matters into my own hands.

"Dad if I don't come back I want you..." I trailed off not being able to finish the sentence.I couldn't.I choked on a sob and then the tears came.Actual giant blobs of tears rolled down my cheeks.

I wanted to be strong for my parents especially my mom but with the day actually here it all came crashing down.

"Aela look at me," but I couldn't I looked down at my thighs as the tears kept coming "Come on look at me sweetie" I finally raised my head and looked my dad in the eyes as I kept crying.The usual happy look in his eyes was replaced with one of sadness.

"It's all going to be ok I-" I cut him off before he could finish "No it's not!" I suddenly shouted at him.The scream echoing in the house.

"It's not going to be ok and you know that so don't you dare try to say that to make me feel better!" this was the tipping point for me, I broke down completely and bawled.My dad tried to reach out for me but I leaned away and roughly stood up from my chair causing it to topple over.

His look of surprise quickly became that of hurt.If he was about to say something I do not know because I picked up my backpack which I'd placed on the floor and walked out of the room and towards the front door.

"Ela!" my dad called out but I was already turning the doorknob.I didn't hesitate before walking out into the welcoming daylight.

Goodbye mom and dad.

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Hi thank you SO SO SO SO SO much for reading the first chapter of my book.Please give me your feedback and I'd really appreciate a vote :)