Short Story:
Cassidy took small short breaths. She looked up at the blue sky and saw that it cloudy. She sat int he shade protecting her from the sun. Her pale skin still seemingly to glimmer in contrast to the dark rest lipstick and mostly black outfit she wore. She looked at her phone as the face lock activated to show forum with the title 'Women who take compatibility to have children are traitors'. The post was made 14 days ago on July 24th, 2029.
The bird chirped, making Cassidy escape from her trance. She smacked her lips a few time before putting the phone away, turning it off. She turned to the building with the name 'Compatibility Center - Dallas'. She looked around to see simple pedestrians walking. Cassidy put on her hoodie and quickly began to pace to the front entrance. She felt as is eyes were watching her, judging her. She began to gasp as she entered.
"C-Calm down!" She was immediately met with an security agent. The Defense of Compatibility United States (DCUS for short). They were a group formed when the protest and riots began. They were almost in the background. They're roll is to ensure two people compatible meet. A controversial group to many and a safety to some. The
few who have said to be accepting of compatibility. "Ma'am, wait here..." the agent said before stepping away.
The lobby was... normal. Cassidy expected something like a prison or completely sterile. It was completely like any lobby to a building. She saw the agent go to the front desk clerk. "Ma'am come here!" He said.
Cassidy thought for a moment to run out the door. Her breath short before she shook her head and steeled herself. She marched to the front.
"Sorry, we need to know if you are Cassidy O'Shae? If you're not we're going to have to ask you to leave the premises-"
"I am Cassidy O'Shae... I..." Cassidy shook as she took out a purse. She dug out her identification and a 'Compatibility' card. The clerk took both and scanned the Compatibility.
"You're thirty minutes early..." the clerk mentioned.
"I-I just thought there would be a line or something... I thought coming early was like..."
"We understand," the clerk said before waving off the security guard who went to watch the front. "Ma'am, are you okay?"
"Should I be here?" Cassidy's voice shook as her eyes became watery. She had this puckered frown, "Half a year ago I stood outside this building and threw anything at you people yelling
'Unity over Compatibility'..."
The clerk had a still face, "I am not the one who should be speaking to?"
"Then who?" Cassidy gasped out, "am I a traitor?"
And before the clerk could continue, the elevator door rang. A woman wearing a red dress stepped out. The clerk immediately broke her still expression, "
Miss Delia!"
"Hello," Miss Delia walked with a bright smile. "Cassidy O'Shae!" Miss Delia said with such familiarity, it shocked Cassidy. "Come now, we spoke on the phone. I mean briefly, but it's good to meet you."
Cassidy wiped her eyes and the tip of her nose, "g-good to see you."
"Come with me, we have much to discuss," Miss Delia pointed at the elevator. Cassidy looked over and the clerk before nodding and marching forward, keeping her head down. Miss Delia followed as Cassidy, shaking, entered the elevator with Miss Delia. "15th floor."
Cassidy hit the number 15 as the elevator doors closed. The elevator began to rise after dinging. Cassidy took in a loud inhale and exhaled as loud. "Everything is going to be alright?"
"I threw a bottle at you." Cassidy looked over at Miss Delia who raised a brow. "I threw a bottle at you about six months ago. T-The Riot? On Valentines. It was barely filled with iced coffee, but I got you right in the head."
"Miss O'Shae..."
"Cassidy! My name is Cassidy!"
A pause as Miss Delia spoke, "Cassidy, there is no ill will."
"W-Why!?" Cassidy yelled only staring at Miss Delia from the reflection of the elevator doors. "Is it cause I'm a traitor to what I once stood for? Is that it? Am I your poster girl?" Cassidy gulped before wiping a tear as it stream down black due to her mascara. "Am I going to be shown as once a protestor, now Compatibility Apologist?"
Miss Delia looked as the door of the elevator opened, "no, Cassidy, that is not the goal here." Miss Delia stepped out as Cassidy followed with a stern stride.
"Then what is...?"
"What I said on the phone... to meet the one you were Compatible with."
Cassidy stopped and clenched her fist. She let out a exasperated sigh, "this is ridiculous... why am I feeling this way?" Cassidy let some tears flow. She looked down for a moment before looking up ready to yell, but her eyes widened. She saw someone beside Miss Delia. A young man (similar of age). He seemed only slightly taller than Cassidy and had on a nice collared shirt. He looked like he could work in this building, but she could tell who he was.
"Cassidy, this is the one you were 78% compatible with...
Julio Reyes." Miss Dalia had a warm smile, she turned to Julio, "both of you talk. I'll be in my office."
"Right," Julio said with a nod. He turned to Cassidy and stared at her. She stared back, her tear dripping down. She began to wipe as Julio chuckled, "I... I heard a lot about you."
Cassidy nodded, not being able to make eye contact. "I... It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Julio responded with a smile.
Cassidy wiped her eyes, smearing some make up. "Am I... what you expected...?"
Julio stopped, "I don't know how to answer that."
Cassidy snorted, finally being able to look at him. "Is that a
safe response?"
"No it's just, I don't want to come off as shallow or anything."
"Right," Cassidy went back to averting her eyes. She rubbed the back of her head. "Julio... I... I barely dated guys I just met. I wasn't a 'one night stand' type of girl. Even with the guys who were super cute when I was a hormonal mess. I would say I thought 'love at first sight' was complete bullshit. I stood out there back in Valentines Day... the Valentines Day Riot... I was telling Miss Delia that I threw a bottle at her. That was the nicest thing I did during the Riots... I called the police and security 'rapist'. I meant it at the time too. I hated everything this place stood for."
Julio looked at Cassidy who slowly looked up at him, awaiting a response. "When did you want a child?"
Cassidy chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Fuck you." She glared at him, "fuck you for taking the compatibility test. Fuck you for coming here. Fuck you... for knowing what has been running through my head..." Cassidy turned and leaned against a wall. "Fuck...." She closed her eyes, letting tears fall. She could feel a pain on her chest as she clutched her fist. She began to fall to her knees, hearing Julio coming close. He simply knelt down, looking at her. She turned to look at him with a glare. "I know I don't look the part. I know you may see me as a alternative bi-sexual girl who hates the system, but I always wanted a kid. I always had baby fever. So to answer your question. Before the Breeding Law. Before the infertility rates plummeted... I wanted a baby."
Julio put his hand on her shoulder, she reached over and squeezed it. "And god... I just couldn't find the right guy. I turned 28 and I wanted to pretend that it didn't, but it did. And when the Breeding Law passed I waved the anti-banner so hard. Then... I saw the babies born from the first wave. And I took the Compatibility exam... I thought it was going to take years. Maybe I could ignore it, pretend it was to prove the Breeding Laws wrong. And they called me two weeks later. I was compatible with you."
Julio rubbed her shoulder, "I am no one special. I actually work in a plumbing job... nothing special... I just dig. I work in dirt and well... I wanted to earn money. I heard about the Compatibility..."
"The money," Cassidy snorted into a giggle.
"The money sounded good. It was what all my other co-workers told me. Free money. Make a child. I am not one with feminism or movements... not that I hate them, but like I don't make enough money in life and need to focus on work or else I strave. I took a Compatiblity exam the first day they introduced the Breeding Law. I want children too, I mean I would like to be able to have children. It just felt like I had a freedom and desire I could get. Two weeks ago, I got the call."
Cassidy winced when she heard how he wanted children. It was the way she felt. How life was going to move on despite her wants. And that she took the first opportunity to make it happen.
"You're not married?" Cassidy asked as Julio shook his head. Cassidy found herself staring into his brown eyes. "Would you have done this if you were married?"
Julio shrugged, "probably not. But I hadn't had time for a girlfriend in years. So, cheating wasn't going to be an issue. That said, all the men and women who had sex with the people they were compatible with..."
Cassidy nodded and said, "0% failure rate. All the couples who are 50% or more compatible will choose their Compatible partner over their spouse." Both Cassidy and Julio chuckled for a moment. They shared a look as Cassidy tilted her head. Her lips parted, but she gazed at Julio a bit more. A smile appeared on her face.
"I never had sex with a hispanic guy..."
"I never had sex with a white woman..." Julio smiled back.
Cassidy shrugged, "I... I want to get to know you before we..."
"Of course," Julio grabbed her hand and kissed it. Cassidy giggled and immediately leaned against him. They both sat there holding their hands and leaning agsindt each other. Looking forward, but not paying attention. They both were just making sure the other was comfortable. They both sat there. Two people. Two different lives. Two different perspectives. Brought together.
It was strange. Julio is a complete stranger. She wouldn't think to even look at him in any other circumstance. But here she was... feeling infuated... like he was
compatible. Soon Cassidy would get up, still holding Julio's hand, ready for the next step