Aligned

“Hurry, Harper,” I yell as I pull the blanket from the back of the couch. “It’s starting.”

Music flows from the speakers of the television as the Auren insignia spins on the screen. The same video played at every Alignment Ceremony.

“What’d I miss?” Harper asks as she flops onto the couch, almost spilling the popcorn in her hands.

“Nothing, the Auren video just started,” I say.

“Eighty two years ago everyone was crazy and nobody stayed married and Mr. Smart scientist Auren fixed everything,” Harper mocks the video sarcastically.

“You better not let me mom hear you,” I laugh.

Harper rolls her eyes, waving her hand at me, “Seriously, Dahlia. The only reason I’m watching this is because secretly I hope Charlotte ends up with a ditch digger three states over.”

“That would be terrible,” I laugh. “It doesn’t matter. Everyone knows it’s going to be Brandon behind that curtain.”

Everyone has flings and short lived flirtations, but Charlotte and Brandon have been together since our freshman year in college. They are definitely soulmates, nobody stays together that long. Plus, it just so happens that both of their Alignment Ceremonies are scheduled for the same day.

“We don’t know that,” Harper raises an eyebrow. “Auren has held two Alignment Ceremonies in one night before. Maybe that is what is happening here.”

“Maybe,” I shrug. “But I doubt it.”

“Shhh,” Harper taps my arm. “It’s starting.”

We both lean forward as a voice announces the names of Auren’s newest Aligned couple and the white curtains on the screen drop to the floor.

“Oh no,” I gasp. “It’s not Brandon.”

The camera moves to Charlotte for a reaction shot, but she isn’t smiling. She doesn’t move, she just stands frozen in place as she looks at the man standing across from her.

A single tear streams down her cheek, “no. this is a mistake.” Her voice is so low you can barely hear her, but the microphone picks up every word.

The camera quickly fumbles from her to her mother. Mrs. Ashford’s head drops as Mr. Ashford places his arm around her shoulders.

Random gasps and whispers can be heard from the audience as shuffling moves closer to the camera. Two security teams move across the stage. One toward Charlotte and one toward her parents. Then the feed cuts and music plays as the Auren insignia spins on the screen.

I stare at the screen, almost convinced this was some kind of prank. But Auren would never joke about Alignments. Matching people to their soulmates using genetics is sacred.

“Well…” Harper says slowly. “That just happened.”

We slowly turn toward each other, eyes wide and jaws dropped.

“I mean…” Harper shrugs, “I guess we don’t have to go to Charlotte’s birthday party now.”

“Harper!” I laugh.

“It’s true,” Harper grabs the remote to change the channel.

“Please,” I roll my eyes, “there’s no way you weren’t looking forward to free food and alcohol.”

Harper slowly turns toward me with a devilish grin, “maaaybe.”

We both laugh as my best friend flips through channels looking for a movie.

“So, your alignment is coming up,” Harper says without turning from the television. “Are you ready?”

I stare at the ad for Auren that is playing on the screen. “Every child deserves to be born into certainty.” A gentle voice says as a pregnant woman rubs her stomach watching her husband put a crib together.

That’s going to be me. In only a few weeks I will meet my soulmate and start a family. In only a few weeks I will have everything I’ve ever wanted.

“Of course I’m ready,” I say. “I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life.”

Harper and I find a romcom and compare the characters to our lives. Laughing about the way people used to pick spouses without knowing if they were actually meant to be together.

“That couple is going to be divorced in five years,” Harper turns the television off. “Then her and the kids are going to be stuck on welfare while he runs around making seven more babies that go on welfare.”

“Probably,” I roll my eyes as I fold the blanket and put it up. “That’s the way it was back then.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you later,” Harper says as she moves toward the door. “You want to get lunch tomorrow?”

“Lunch is perfect,” I smile at her. “Love you, bitch.”

“Love you, psycho,” Harper says right before the door clicks shut.

Walking into the kitchen with the popcorn bowl and trash I see my mother sitting at the table playing games on her phone.

“Did Harper go home?” She asks.

“Yes,” I say. “Just now.”

“How did Charlotte’s Alignment Ceremony go?” She sets her tablet down as she looks up at me, “Was it perfect?”

“You haven’t heard?” I can’t hide the urgency in my voice as I sit at the table. “It was a disaster. Charlotte cried and they had to cut the feed when she saw it wasn’t Brandon.”

“That is terrible,” my mother says. “Her poor mother. I’m glad that I don’t have to worry about you putting your father or I in that situation. We raised you right.”

My stomach drops at the thought of my parents being carried away because of a choice I made. There is nothing broken inside of me like Charlotte, my mother has nothing to worry about.

“Why would Charlotte do that?” I ask.

“She thought she loved that Brandon boy,” my mother shrugs. “Some people still think they can self-select their spouse. Like there's any possible way to know better than genetic certainty.”

“I guess,” I shrug.

“I’m sure her mother was relieved for a moment when she saw Charlotte’s soulmate,” my mother says as she takes a sip of her tea. “Who was her match?”

“Geoffrey Winthrop,” I turn my head toward her. “Did Mrs. Ashford not want Charlotte’s genetic match to be Brandon?”

“I mean… Of course, she would have welcomed Brandon if he was actually her soulmate, but can you imagine,” my mother chuckles. “Charlotte trying to live off of a teacher’s salary?”

“Teaching is a noble profession.” I say.

“Of course it is” my mother says. “But Charlotte has a degree in Art. As a teacher’s wife the closest she would ever get to an art gallery would be if she volunteered. And who knows if they would even let her.”

Charlotte always goes on and on about the paintings and sculptures at the art openings she gets invited to. I always thought Brandon didn’t go with her because he wasn’t interested. I never considered it was because he wasn’t welcome.

“But Geoffrey Winthrop,” my mother coos. “He’s a politician. She’d be welcome at every party, every gallery opening, and every major event in the country. Probably the world.”

“What’s going to happen now?” I ask.

My mother sets her tea on the table taking in a deep breath. She mumbles to herself before taking my hands.

“It depends,” she leans toward me. “Auren will take good care of Charlotte. And maybe it will be an easy fix, and she will return to marry Geoffrey.”

“So, you think she will be back?” I ask. “You don’t think she’s going to have to move to Harmony Village?”

“I certainly hope not,” she says as she stands, grabbing her cup off of the table. “Did you and Harper keep watching? See if Brandon’s Alignment Ceremony came on after?”

Brandon. I completely forgot about him. I wonder if he even knew that Charlotte’s Alignment happened before his. Probably not, Auren is very careful about everything being top secret up until the reveal.

He was probably in a room with his mother and best friend. Getting dressed for the biggest day of his life. Smiling. Waiting and expecting to stand at the white drapes and see Charlotte when they fell.

“No,” I say. “We didn’t even think about it. We watched a movie.”

“It’ll be on the news,” my mother flips on the television in the kitchen.

The screen flickers on and a man in his early thirties appears on the screen. His brown hair is perfectly styled, and his gray suit and purple tie are crisp and free of wrinkles.

“Good evening. I’m James Pembroke reporting from the studio and tonight we have Senator Geoffrey Winthrop via satellite.”

“Welcome Senator,” Mr. Pembroke says as a second screen pops up beside him.

“Thank you for having me, James,” Senator Winthrop says.

“After being embarrassed the way you were, do you still believe that Auren should continue televising Alignment Ceremonies Senator Winthrop?” Mr. Pembroke asks immediately.

Senator Winthrop shifts in his chair, lowering his head for a moment, before straightening and looking into the camera.

“I wouldn’t describe what happened to me as embarrassing,” he says. “Tonight was painful, but it also reminded us why Auren exists. Tonight was necessary.”

“What about the embarrassment to the Ashford family?” Mr. Pembroke furrows his brows.

“The Ashford family allowed their daughter to be led into a relationship with a boy that was desperate for a different kind of life,” Senator Winthrop states matter-of-factly. “The Ashford's need to look at themselves and try to figure out where they went wrong that allowed their daughter to be manipulated for so many years.”

“What’s next for you, Senator?” Mr. Pembroke asks.

“Charlotte is with Auren right now. They have every confidence that Charlotte will recover.” Senator Winthrop states. “We as a society are lucky to have a corporation that is as invested in our happiness and well-being as Auren is.”

“Thank you, Senator,” Mr. Pembroke says as he turns to a different camera view and the screen expands. “Officials have confirmed that Brandon Clark’s scheduled Alignment Ceremony has been postponed pending the outcome of the Ashford investigation. Up next, City Councils are taking action to move factories. Should these industrial workers continue living within city limits?”

“I don’t understand,” I state as my mother turns the television off. “They canceled Brandon's Ceremony? What's going to happen to him?”

“You heard Senator Winthrop,” she says as she rinses her cup. “This was Brandon’s fault. He will most likely be moved to Harmony Village.”

My heart drops. I always liked Brandon. He is funny and kind and loved all of the children in his classes. Was none of that true?

Was he manipulating Charlotte this whole time and chasing her family's money and status? I guess you never really know someone.

“I’m off to bed,” my mother says as she walks in the direction of her bedroom.

“Okay. Love you, Mom.” I say.

“Me too,” she says back.

Making my way upstairs to my bedroom I can’t stop thinking about Charlotte. Hopefully Brandon didn’t do too much damage, and Auren is able to correct her. If they can’t, then I’ll never see her again.

All I can do is trust that she will be okay. That in a couple of weeks I will see her and she will understand what happened.

Auren has never been wrong before. They aren’t going to start being wrong now.