Free Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas Page A

that comes along with informing the City if the next day will be safe or not.
    But they aren’t coming to hold me, and I’m left on the stage, little fists balled up to my teary eyes, crying. Out in the crowd, my parents’ color starts to fade away. My mother’s dress is going from a howling red to a faded, dull grey. Eventually, she blends in with everyone else, along with my father. She seems distant now, and there’s some sort of recognition for me in her eyes, like she truly knows me and my pain, but it soon fades. They both disappear within the sea of white, and I can no longer discern them from the others. My parents are gone, and I am alone.
    But when I turn to run off the stage, I am different. I am grown-up, and a grown-up Gabe steps out to block my way. He holds out his arms to embrace me, and I don’t feel so alone anymore.
    …
    A month later, Brandon finally earns his wings. After his successfully reporting full consecutive Visions without any confusion, the Keeper deemed it time for him to join the Seeing Ceremony, along with a few others who have been waiting for their day to come. The Ceremony is today, and I am excited to have a day off from our brutal training.
    From my closet, I pull out a flowing gown. It is white and plain, with only a long, ribboned bow to tie in the back. Everyone wears white on the day of a Seeing Ceremony, instead of our day-to-day black and grey jumpsuits and robes. It is a time of celebration, to acknowledge one another and the gift that we’ve been given. To be happy to be what we are. I think of my dream parents in red, bold against the stark white of the crowd. I think of my mother who seemed to know me, but suddenly didn’t anymore.
    I decide to leave my hair down, which is rare. There’s too much of it, to be honest. And it’s too thick for its own good. I sometimes debate wanting to cut it all off, to keep it short and by my ears, but Mae and Connie always tell me how jealous they are of my long hair, and for whatever reason, I listen to them when they insist on not cutting it.
    The black tresses tumble down almost to my waist, and I drag some of it behind my ears to keep it out of my face. When I look in the mirror, I can hardly believe the girl standing there is me. I look radiant, like a light in the darkness. What will Gabe think when he sees me in my gown? Will he even care?
    Sometimes, I wish we were allowed makeup like the Citizens. I think I’d look pretty with some lipstick or blush, but the Keeper has banned cosmetics, reminding us always that we are not here to be vain, we are here to See and protect the people. She is the only one to wear make-up, and usually only does so for important ceremonies.
    Someone knocks on my door and I snap out of staring at my reflection. I push a button and the door slides open, revealing Mae and Connie dressed in their white gowns.
    “Isn’t this exciting?” Mae spins in a circle and the skirts of her dress open up around her like a blossoming flower.
    Connie reaches out and touches some of my hair. “You look so pretty with your hair down, Bea.”
    “Thanks.” I smile at her compliment and am filled with hope that Gabe will think the same. “Are you both ready?”
    “Just waiting on you. Gabe’s down the hall. He said he’d meet us at the hub.” Connie lets the hair drop back into place.
    I follow them to where Gabe is. Everyone in the halls is dressed in white, the girls in their gowns, and the boys in their ceremonial robes. Gabe stands, staring down another corridor, his right arm folded over his chest, grabbing the other arm.
    “Gabe! We got her!” Mae is a bit on the hyper side today, and her voice easily rises above the others. She nudges me and grins. “Go get ‘em.”
    Connie has some cinnamon candies with her, and she starts to pop them in her mouth. The spicy scent wafts in the air as she chews into them, one-by-one.
    Gabe fleetingly looks at Mae when she calls to him, but his eyes are immediately