text: Lillian J. Hudson Seeing The World I dedicate this to my family and friends. Thank you. xoxo 
   
   
    The Way It Is  
   
  My name is E'liane Rosemary. I am 14 years old. In the confines of my world, I wonder. I wonder about the world outside. Where it is not protected. Where things like smog, cars, wars, planes, and diseases exist. Its a funny sight, the outside of the dome. From my point of view, its black. And greasy. They say its from the cemicals the others put into the air. They say never to trust an other. Unless they live here and do not talk kindly on there former home.  
  Our dome is huge. If I believed this to be accurate, I'd say its the size of China. Thats what the teachers say. But I've never been outside of my world and I have no idea what the size of China is. I probably never will. Unless I get out... 
  But that is quite unlikely. Teachers say we are lucky to live inside the dome. The air is clean, we are safe, we are healthy, we have a better life than the others, etc... But how can i believe them when I don't know how the others live? I mean, the few others that live here are forbidden to talk of their lives outside of the dome. I always wonder why. I wonder so much... Too much. Too much for my own good. If they knew... 
  My mother and father were others. They have books from the outside world. The books make we wonder. I am not aloud to read the books. It didn't stop me. My mother and father always ground me when I ask about the other world... I wonder why. Why so many rules? Why not cars or planes? Why no smog or war? All the books say war is bad. That it kills people. Many many people. Like World War 2 was a genocide. Because they killed millions of innocent people. But that was long, long ago... 
  The books also say smog is bad. Dangerous to our health, as humans. Dangerous to our bodies. They say planes and cars and factories cause smog. So, they cause the damage to out health. But those books are old. Older than the dome and believe me, the dome is old. 
  The books sometimes talk about the dome. The newer one, from my parents time. They make me feel sad sometimes. Confused.  
  The books say we are trapped. Others say we are safe. I say I want to know for my own. 
   
   
   
   School  
   
  Everyday except for Saturday and Sunday, we go to school or work. Right now, I'm still in my school phase. Mother and father always say school here is a lot like school in the other world, except more filtered. What are they hiding us from? I want to know about the world. I don't want to be lied to. And I always feel as if I am. 
  Anyway, school is easy. Mostly boring, but I'm a straight A student and I have a lot of good friends. Many of them don't know my knowledge of the outside world. Many of them don't know my desire to see it. In fact, only one knows. 
  Hes my best friend. He has been since we were born. Same hospital, same day, same hour, same year. 3 minutes apart. Our parents both came from the other world and were very best friends when they lived there. So, by design, we just had to be inseperable. And we are. 
  Anyway, Leonell and I share the same dream. To see the world around us. We both have an extensive knowledge of that world, far greater than anyone in the school. The government must have more knowledge than us, of course. But the officials don't usually come out, and when they do, it means something bad. 
  Back to the main topic: School. 
  I go to Secoran High School, named after our founder. I went to Angelique Middle School, after his daughter, and Aiden Elementary, after his son. When I go to college, it'll be Kordavine University. That one is for his wife.  
  Once a year, Secoran comes out to tell our people who has passed, how many people will be let into our area, how many people can travel out (this is usually very few), and how many people will be living here at the end of December. The yearly visit is pretty soon. This is the first time Leonell and I will go. We are in 9th grade. The "initiation" age. This will be our first glimpse into politics. 
  But we know so much because of our parents. They had broadcasts from here showing our polictics in the other world. We've seen them all. But our parents burned the tapes eventually. Just like how in a few months, the books will burn. The government cannot know of our knowledge. Or our dreams.  
  One day, they won't stop me. One day, I'll be free. 
   
   
   
   The Yearly Visit  
   
  We gather in the hot auditorium for the first time and take our assigned seats. I'm awful far from Leonell. Yet, I am near my parents, and my good friend Dannielle.  
  The chatter in the room is deafening. I see Secoran walk up to his podium. He fixes his tie and... 
  "Silence! Silence please."  
  You could now hear a pin drop. 
  "December, the month of travel, is near. About a week from now. It is time to welcome children and newcomers. It is also time to say goodbye to the fallen, the criminals, and the ones who wish wholeheartedly to leave. This is a happy yet sad time. First, the death toll." 
  People chatter quietly, but Secoran yells again, so they all shut up. I look wistfully at my parents. 
  "This year, 30 people have gone. 17 males and 13 females. 89% of deaths were of old age. The other 11% were those under 25. We will miss each and every member of our community that has passed. 20 people will be leaving because of criminal acts. 8 female, 12 male. All of them were over 25. Now, for the willing travelers. This year we are letting out 2 people. One male, one female. So, in total, we have 52 open spots for newcomers and children. 
  "We now welcome the 33 new children into our community. 20 female, 13 male. 91% of families in our community now have reached the permitted amount of children. 9% may have one or two children.  
   
   
   Publication Date: September 12th 2012 https://www.bookrix.com/-lillianthereader