Free Blemished, The by Sarah Dalton Page B

competitions…”
    “What if it’s all for pretend? What if they don’t make any films at all?” I leaned in closer, speaking more softly. My dad’s words echoed in my mind about the screens. “When someone is picked for London, do you ever see them again?”
    “I dunno,” Angela replied. “There’s never anyone picked for London in Area 14. Most of the GEMs just get jobs in shops or hospitals.”
    “Doesn’t it all seem a bit weird to you?”
    “I’ve never really thought about it before.” She turned back to the TV screen where a frighteningly thin girl with blonde hair jumped up and down. She’d just been crowned Miss Skinny of Area 7. “Do you think they would really lie to us like that?”
    I nodded. “After today? After what they did to Emily? Absolutely.”
    “I guess you’re right,” she said with a sigh.
    In the kitchen a door opened and closed and I heard Daniel’s voice as he greeted his adoptive mother. Angela heard it too and I saw the smile that spread across her face. Then Theresa’s voice replied, muffled. It sounded wrong, too loud and rushed.
    “Angie! Oh, Angie. Your Father is home!” Theresa called. I heard the pad of her bare feet across the tiles of the kitchen. “Come quick. Come quick.”
    Angela jumped up. “No, Mum, it’s Daniel.”
    “What kind of fool do you think I am,” snapped Theresa. “I know my own husband.”
    “Daddy?” Angela said, her voice tinged with hope.
    “No, Angela ––” I began, reaching out to catch Angela’s arm but she was gone before I could stop her.
    She darted into the kitchen and I followed. In front of me Angela stopped dead and her shoulders slumped. It was Daniel.
    “I’m sorry, I’m not your husband,” he said. “You know me.” Theresa had him gripped in a bear hug. She leaned forward to kiss him but Daniel squirmed. There were tears in his eyes. “Please, no. You’ve got it wrong! You know me. I’m Daniel.”
    “Oh, Paul! Paul I’ve missed you so much,” she crooned.
    Angela stood transfixed, staring at the scene in front of her. I had to do something.
    “Theresa,” I said. I moved slowly towards her and placed a tentative arm around her shoulder. She was a short woman, and when hunched over in confusion she was even shorter. The recognition in her eyes faded and became vague again. “Why don’t I make you a nice cup of tea?” I manoeuvred her across to the table.
    “Paul?” Her fingers trembled inside mine as I took her hand. I was afraid to turn away and make the tea. “Oh. I so thought it was him. Oh! I am so confused these days.” She burst into tears, a deep hacking, throaty cry. I paused, unsure of what to do or say.
    “Mummy,” Angela whimpered. “Please don’t cry!” She collapsed into a chair and the two of them cried together, heads pressed against each other like just hours ago as Billie and Emily said goodbye.
    Daniel moved over to me and said, “Maybe we should give them some time.”
    I nodded. As we left the room I placed the tea down on the table, feeling useless. Theresa was deteriorating. The Operation had slowly been eating away at her mind, stripping her away, and she had been my own hope that there was a chance for a normal life after. I took a deep breath before I followed Daniel into the lounge but it was at that moment I knew for certain that I would never have the Operation, and neither would Angela. I would get us both out somehow. I’d find a way. 
    In the lounge I told Daniel about Emily at school and watched his blue eyes intensify. Shades of anger flickered across his face as though someone held a candle beneath his chin. At the end he shook his head.
    “I didn’t see this.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “If only I’d seen this we could have saved her.”
    “No,” I murmured. “It wasn’t your responsibility.”
    He stood up and paced the room. “I don’t care whose responsibility it was. Why didn’t the visions let me see? I could have