Read Online Running Dry by Jody Wenner - Free Book Online

this."
    "Well, those tests are designed to take your personality into account.  I know it's not what you wanted, but you know what?  Maybe you'll enjoy it.  You should just wait and see."
    "I don’t even know what that is...I mean, I've studied all of the positions, but espionage isn't something they give us a lot of information about.  I know it's housed under Government, which never made that much sense to me because it has something to do with war tactics.  There are several things that fall within the category of espionage, but I think most people work in the big government building down near the City Center."  The deep ache in my stomach heaves back up and I begin blubbering again and it becomes unstoppable.  An office job.  Is that truly my destiny?  How did this happen?  Soon I start to hyperventilate and shake.
    Regina gets up, "I'll get you some water."  She moves from the couch to the small kitchen counter which is an island so she can still talk to me from there.  "You know," she says, as she pours the water from a pitcher into a glass, "I didn't want to be a factory worker, either.  No way.  I wanted to be in Distribution.  Why?  I really have no idea.  I just remember thinking when I was young that the people who got to go around and bring water to everyone were like saints.  Water fairies or something.  They were straight out of children's stories.  When I got older, I realized that a job is a job and they are all pretty terrible, no matter how much school makes you think otherwise.  I've met plenty of water distributors as an adult that I've told that story to and they think it's pretty amusing.  Water fairies."  She chuckles and shakes her head as she hands me the glass and sits back down.
    "The point is," she continues, "sometimes you just have to think of the positive side of things.  Now, I know right now you think your life is over, but think about this.  At least this position offers you the opportunity to get married and have children."
    I sip the water and listen to what she is telling me.  "That's not something I'm interested in," I say, confused.
    "Maybe not right now, at your age, but trust me, it might be when you're older.  Being a mother is the best thing I have ever done.  And even though things didn't work out perfectly, I don't regret any of it.  Otherwise, I wouldn't have Zane.  We wouldn't have Zane."
    Zane.  "But I might not ever get to see him again!  Not if he gets a job on base."  The Military assignments are housed on the base, or outside of the fences.  Besides the occasional visitations, they aren't allowed to leave there, ever.
    Regina looks at me with the sad eyes I remember from the last conversation we had.  "Maybe not, but you still get to keep him with you.  Just like I get to keep Zander with me.  You can never unknow him."
    "I don't know," I say contemplatively.  My head hurts and my stomach feels weak and I can't think anymore.  I thank Regina for the water and go back to my apartment.  I slam down on my bed and close my eyes.  On top of everything, the fact that I might not get to see Zane again hits me hard, probably the hardest really because taking away my dream is tough, but Zane is my reality.  I've realized these last few months how much I've suffered from his absence.  I can't imagine continuing without him.  As much as I try to fight it, the tears flood my eyes again and I cry deep into my pillow while my whole body shakes and fits until I wear myself out and fall asleep.
     
     
    Zane
    It's the middle of the night when I slip from the lower bunk and slowly creep out of the sleeping quarters.  In the dark, I find my way out to the yard and past several of the buildings scattered throughout the base.  Once I'm near the fence and things are quiet, I slump down onto the ground and pull a small flashlight from my pocket and look at the map one last time, double-checking the tunnel path I will need to follow. 
    We've been