One Nation

By Fatimah Evans

In a world governed by international law, every citizen in every country knows peace-- but at what cost? The government controls almost every aspect of life: one's Occupation, wages, and hours worked. Everything is monitored.
Nimrah, a Nurse, discovers a secret- she has the ability to heal any ailment or injury with her will and the touch of her hand. When she unknowingly heals a little girl, she finds herself in the midst of a dangerous plot.
Now she must rely on her newfound love, Honestum, and a group of trustworthy friends to assist her in keeping the only thing humanity has left safe...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387855377

Book preview

One Nation

One Nation

One Nation

Fatimah Evans

Copyright © 2018 by Fatimah Evans

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing:2018

ISBN 978-1-387-88071-3

PREFACE:

I’ve been blinded and dunked in a vat of acid that is slowly burning away my skin. I can’t see anything. I don’t even hear my own screams, but I must be screaming. I’m on fire! I must be paralyzed too because I can’t feel my limbs thrashing, as they should be.

Why is this happening to me? I don’t understand… I’m thrown in full blown panic mode as the fire eats away at the base of my neck. How long before it destroys me completely? I try to latch on to this minuscule section of my brain that allows me to contemplate these things.

What can I register? What am I aware of? There is something akin to a very cold breeze that’s flows through my throat and into my chest. It’s so cold. Am I outside? The breeze flowing through my body must be extremely cold air. Okay, well at least my lungs are intact. Breathe.

CHAPTER 1: The Hospital

NIMRAH

A cool breeze softly caresses my face. I crack my eyes open and peek out of the open window near my bed. The horizon glows faintly with the warm rays of the morning star in hues of pink, orange and purple. Stretching, I turn over in my bed right before my alarm goes off.

Slowly, I slip out of bed, leaving the warm embrace of my comforter. I have twenty minutes before I have to leave the house. Fortunately, I’m up before my two roommates and the first to shower. Stepping into the tub the scan commences and a ding announces the digital count down- I’m allotted seven minutes before the shower cuts off automatically. Lathering quickly, I rinse off and am done right as the shower cuts off. I’m dried off with teeth brushed and dressed within six minutes.

I pause briefly to do a once-over in the mirror to make sure I look presentable (I forget to do that sometimes and would realize later that my clothing was inside out). My bright copper complexion is a tad lighter than the dull brown Nurse’s attire I wear. My chestnut brown hair hangs just past my shoulder blades in waves- still wet from the shower. It will dry into loose curls on the way to work. There are dark circles under my big, bright brown eyes from lack of sleep. I shrug my shoulders- I guess I’m presentable enough. I grab a small loaf of bread from the kitchen and head out the door, on my way to The City.

There is a slight breeze as I walk briskly to The Hospital where I work as a Nurse. The Hospital is one of very few major facilities in The Nation. It takes about twenty minutes to get there on foot. I enjoy the warmth from the sun as its rays spread across my face. The warmth is a nice contrast to the cool breeze that ruffles my loose fitting clothes. 

Before I know it, The Hospital is looming in front of me. It’s five stories tall with huge tinted windows surrounded by brick with a stone foundation. As I enter The Hospital, I’m greeted at the front desk by a woman who appears to be in her mid-forties. Her hair is wrapped in a tight bun and she is dressed similarly to myself in a loose-fitting brown garment.

Nimrah, you are on team five today of section three. Report to Garde, she states as she looks down at her chart on her desk.

Thanks, I say with a smile as I head to the elevator.

I press the button that will lead me to section three- Maternity. I get off on the third floor and head to the left to Garde’s desk. He spots me as I turn the corner.

Nimrah! Thank goodness you are on this shift today. We have three expecting twins and ten expecting singles- all seven rooms are booked. One room left has one remaining bed available for possible emergency admission.

Sounds like fun. Who needs me the most at this moment? I ask him. He comes around from his desk with his three clipboards. I need you to work the two rooms with the twins simultaneously. I follow him to the first room and sanitize my hands and arms. He introduces me to both women at the same time, neither of them paying any attention as they try to control their breathing through the contractions. I notate their vitals and give them more fluids through their IVs. Both women are given cool wet cloths on their foreheads and warm cloths on the bottom portion of their bellies and then I head off to the next room. I am about to introduce myself when I am interrupted by an ear-splitting wail. I rush to her side; her entire face has turned red and then a shade of purple and it is coated in a sheen of sweat. Needless to say, she is the first to deliver.

Ten hours and forty healthy babies later, I head back downstairs. I give a small wave and slight smile to the woman who now sits at the front desk. I wait under a tree at the front of the building to catch a ride back home- my feet are way too sore to walk. As I wait, I see two figures heading towards The Hospital. The woman is slightly taller than I am with dull blond hair and a worried expression deepening the lines around her eyes. She is carrying a small child, perhaps four years of age. The little girl is so small, with tears streaming from her bright blue eyes onto her red cheeks. The woman, who I assume is her mother, gently cradles her head which is full of shiny blond ringlets. She heads inside to front desk.

I try to keep my eyes open for a Driver, but I can’t help but glance back at the scene inside. The woman appears to be pleading with the woman at the front desk as she shifts her weight from foot to foot. A few minutes later and she comes back out- still carrying the child. Just then, a car appears with the sign that says Driver 023. I am torn between hailing this Driver and asking the woman what is wrong. I know The Hospital has had plenty of days where it was packed to capacity, but I have never seen anyone turned away myself. I hold my hand up in a way that beckons both the Driver and the woman.

She eyes my garb and then strides toward me. Please, you have to help me,’ she says. My daughter has a fever and we can’t get a spot in the waiting room of The Hospital because we are new to this City of The Nation and I left our residency cards in my haste to get her here, she continues as she stares at me pleadingly. Meanwhile, the car is starting to inch forward when I hold my hand back up. I look back at the woman and her child who is starting to shiver as the cool air blows through her thin, yellow, sweat-soaked dress. Come with me- I will see what I can do to help back at my residence.

Her lined faced softens briefly with a weak smile as she thanks me fervently. I let them in first and I squeeze in last.

Where to? the Driver asks as he eyes the three of us from his mirror.

I smile politely, The Nurse Residency please.

CHAPTER 2: Unexpected Guests

NIMRAH

We arrive at my place of residency. The Nurse Residency is comprised of a few one-story houses that resemble cabins- although we are further from The Forest than we are from The City. We head to the house marked with the number one. One of my roommates is at The Hospital for her shift and the other is out and about since it is her day off, although she will be back soon, as it is quite dark.

I hold the door open for the woman as she rushes in with her daughter. It is then that I realize I have let complete strangers in the house. I do not even know their names. As the hostess, I introduce myself first. I’m Nimrah. Please set your daughter here.  I point to a low cot placed at the far corner of the common room.

She grunts as she gently lowers the fair-haired child, who is now sleeping. Thank you Nimrah. My name is Katya and this is Faith, she states, indicating the small girl.

I give her a reassuring smile as I head to the sink to wash my hands. I return with a cool damp cloth to place on Faith’s forehead. Her eyes flicker slightly beneath her lids. Her cheeks are hot to the touch. No need to grab a thermometer- she definitely has a fever. I head to the bathroom to grab a few more cloths and run them under the cold water. I wring them out slightly and place them on the young girl’s stomach, arms and legs. She barely stirs.

I turn to her mother, Katya and give her another reassuring smile. She will be just fine. Her temperature, though very hot, indicates the fever will break soon. How long has she had this fever? Have there been any other symptoms that I should know about? I’m not a Doctor by any means, just a Nurse, but I am confident in my abilities for healing small ailments and minor injuries.

Katya closes her eyes as she tries to remember. Ummm… Faith has had a fever for five days. The first two days she still had a lot of energy so I didn’t think much of it. I gave her plenty of water but it was hard to get her to rest. After that, it was all I could do to get her to stay awake long enough to drink her water and sip her soup, she clarifies.

I give her a slight nod to acknowledge her words and then turn back to kneel down in front of Faith. I swiftly turn the cloths over on her to keep her cool. I get back up to grab another cloth for the back of her neck and a fever reducer from my cabinet. I administer the medicine slowly so that she can swallow it without choking. Then, I raise her head gently and her mother holds her hair so that I can apply the cloth. I notice that the skin surrounding her Mark, which we are all born with, is a deep shade of red. I gently brush the site with my fingers and it is hotter than the rest of her skin. I lay her back down with her neck on top of the wet cloth. I turn my head to look up at Katya without rising. Have you noticed anything odd about her Mark? I ask.

Her frown deepens as she looks at me questioningly. No, there is nothing wrong with her Mark. She has not been deformed, she replies defensively. Her reaction is understandable. All people are born with Marks on the back of our necks, just as we are all born with two eyes and ten toes.

I simply nod. I turn back to the girl. I close my eyes and as I do, I feel warmth slowly spread throughout my chest and it moves to the pit of my stomach. Eyes still closed, I remove the cloth on Faith’s forehead and replace it with my left palm. My right hand removes the remaining cloths and brushes over the exposed skin, which is starting to feel much cooler. My breathing is even and I hum to myself as my right hand continues to move over the child, barely touching her and finally it settles on the child’s stomach. I can feel her breathing become more even.

My eyes pop open when I hear Faith take a deep breath and she exhales as her eyes open slowly. She looks around in confusion, her eyes switching from my face to her mother’s. I slowly stand up so as not to frighten the child and I stand behind her mother. Katya takes my place by her daughter’s side. Faith, sweetie, now do not be frightened. This here is Nimrah; she is a Nurse. She allowed us to come to her home so that she could help you. She gave you a fever reducer and cool cloths. How do you feel baby girl?

Faith sits up and wraps her tiny arms around her mother’s neck. I feel much betta but I don’ts know how we got here. I don’t bemember anything, she says, her voice so small and adorable.  Katya returns the hug and gently pushes down so that she is laying down again. That is okay baby girl, you have been sleeping a lot lately. Are you thirsty or hungry?

Yes ma’am. I’m both, Faith replies. I go to the kitchen to give her a small wooden cup with water which she chugs quickly. I give her another cup and she quickly swallows that down as well. After a few minutes I give her some warm soup which she sips carefully, but still manages to make a bit of a mess. After a very substantial belch from such a tiny body, she relaxes in her mother’s arms and drifts into a peaceful sleep.

Her mother seems to relax as she stares down at her beautiful little girl. I wonder if she’s taken care of herself much and if she’s had anything to eat yet. Would you like something to eat and drink?

She looks up at me momentarily and nods with a small polite smile. I head to the kitchen to grab two more bowls of soup and a cup of water that I hold between my arm and ribs. She gingerly takes her soup with one hand and I place her water on the small table beside her. She sips her broth without using a spoon for fear of waking Faith.

There are so many questions that I have for this woman but I’m not sure how to begin without seeming intrusive or rude. I tossed around several possibilities of why she and her daughter decided to move to this Area. All Areas are essentially the same and such actions are usually the result of some sort of economic or environmental upset. After a few sips of my own soup, I decide to ask her one question in the least intrusive manner possible.  May I ask why you chose to move to this Area? I remember you stating you just moved here and that you left your residency card at home.

She glances at me and then back down as she takes another sip of her soup from her bowl. Our former Area experienced a birth anomaly with an increase in multiple births per pregnancy. The Leaders announced the opportunity for several mothers to relocate with their children to other designated Areas. They consulted with those other Leaders to see which Areas can take a slight increase in population, she explained. 

Was there a particular reason you chose to volunteer to relocate?

Not really, the opportunity is so rare and I guess I was a bit curious as to whether all Areas really are the same.

Hmmm, was my only reply. I was a bit hungry for more than soup, so I took our bowls back to the kitchen, washed them, and grabbed two rolls of bread.  The silence is only broken occasionally by the sounds of swallowing.

After Katya finishes, she begins to rise, carefully lifting Faith, so as not to wake her. Please accept my gratitude again for what you’ve done for Faith. I’ve never seen a fever-reducer work so quickly before. Perhaps everything is not the same in all of the Areas after all.

I smile at her warmly and say, No thanks necessary Katya. It is the least I could do to aid our newest residents in a hospitable manner. To allow your daughter to suffer needlessly when there was something I could do to help serves no great purpose. It is more efficient to have all of our residents as well as they can be.

She opens her mouth to say something else, but I walk away to get a spare blanket for her to wrap Faith in. She thanks me meekly and heads to the door. I wait with her to see if a Driver will be heading this way, unsure as it is later in the evening.

We don’t have to wait long. A Driver stops right in front of the abode and my roommate,Penny, steps out of the back of car. She smiles at me through her questioning look and walks to my side. Hey, what’s up?, she asks, eyeing my leaving guests as they enter the car.

I wave as the door closes and watch the Driver pull off before answering her. Nothing much. How was your day off? Did you enjoy your evening?

She squints her eyes at me, noting my refusal to state the obvious about my having guests- a rare occasion. "It was great. I went to The Gym and then met a few friends from work. We ate out and went shopping. So how was your evening? I see you had guests," she probes as we enter the house. I sit on the couch that previously served as a resting place for Faith.

"I did have guests- strangers initially. The woman and her child showed up at The Hospital after my shift ended because her daughter had a fever. They were packed to capacity and could not accept them in the waiting room since she left her area residency identification and the child’s condition was not considered emergent.

I invited them here after hearing her situation because I knew I had some fever reducer which I rarely use. I left out the part about them just moving here- I’m not sure if that was information Katya wants to be shared and it serves no purpose to have my roommate know this detail.

She looks a bit disappointed that there wasn’t much more to tell. Oh, how nice of you. After a quick goodnight, Penny saunters to her room and closes her bedroom door.

I stretch as I rise from the sofa and head to my bedroom as well. I am looking forward to my day off.

CHAPTER 3: Day Off

NIMRAH

The sun is higher in the sky than normal when I open my eyes. I don’t sit up immediately. Instead, I relish the fact that I have no duty to fulfil on any kind of strict schedule. It’s not that I don’t enjoy my Occupation- I do. But it is necessary for the well-being of one’s physical and mental state to relax every once and a while.

What do I want to do today? I stretch and roll over on my stomach to stare out my window. I could take a stroll through one of The Parks, or hike in The Forest. As I envision myself in these places, alone, I realize just how little of a social life I really have. I have a few friends; I should probably take the time to see them more often.

I get out of bed, do a few stretches, and gather my things to take a shower. I can hear my roommate, Penny in the kitchen making breakfast. I make my shower a quick one and head to the kitchen just as Penny is finishing her meal. She washes her dishes before heading out to her shift at The Hospital. My other roommate, Kelly is still sleeping to rest up for her shift later this evening.

I fry a couple of eggs, extra crispy, and warm a bread roll. I finish my meal and down a glass of orange juice and water. As I wash my dishes I decide it will be good to visit my friend, Gratia. She is a Teacher at one of The Schools who teaches Nation History to first graders. Today is Wednesday so I know she’ll be at the School- all Teachers are given Sundays off. I pack a lunch to bring with me and call a Driver who arrives in fifteen minutes.

A short ride later and I arrive at The Area 3 Elementary School #7. It’s a one-story building that holds twelve teachers and one-hundred ten students. I grab a visitor’s pass from the main office and walk to Gratia’s class- her session has already started.

Gratia is tall, slender and elegant. Her olive-toned skin is blemish free and she wears her long, lustrous black hair in a ponytail high on her head. She never loses pace as she acknowledges my arrival with a quick smile and a nod. I sit in the back of her classroom of ten; only a few young eyes watch me with curiosity. They quickly turn their attention back to their Teacher as she continues her history lesson.

Society is made of two classes: the leading and the led. The Leaders of The Nation are dedicated to ensuring peace continues. Who can tell me what happens if someone has a problem with someone else? For instance, if someone took your lunchbox and they refused to give it back, would you punch them or shove them and snatch it back or would you bring this matter to your Teacher’s attention?

The Teacher! the ten students shout in unison.

"Excellent class. That is the correct answer. Sometimes grown-ups have problems and each person thinks they are either right, or do not want to correct their wrong. So whenever grown-ups have problems, those issues are resolved fairly by The Leaders.

Now, let’s each take a turn and share with the class what they want to be when they grow up. Ten hands shoot up and Gratia points to the student in the first row on her right. We will start with Adam here and continue down the row. Then we will start with the first person in the next row.

The hands return to their place on their desks as Adam speaks. I want to be a Fire Fighter, he exclaims proudly with his little chest poked out. Each student takes their turn shouting their dreamed Occupations. They range from Teacher, to Farmer, and even Leader.

"Very good class! Now, a person can be anything they want to be, as long as it is something that they can physically do without decreasing efficiency and productivity, she states with emphasis on those two descriptions. Most people are wired to do what they are best at. Schooling starts at the age of four. All schools are taught under the same curriculum- leadership, history, math, science, language arts, and physical education. At the age of fifteen, each student is introduced to the basics of each Occupation available in The Nation. The following year, each student takes several compatibility tests that hone in on their skills and, to some extent, their interests. Once the results are received, those students are inducted in internships for their top three Occupations.

"At the end of the internship, each Teacher of those Occupations compiles data into a list of the top producers in their classes. Another test is administered and all of the data is reviewed by The Leaders who choose the Occupation that is best-suited. There is no failure- everyone is chosen to do something that contributes to The Nation. Each person becomes a Novice of their chosen Occupation at the age of seventeen. They are to leave the homes of their parents or Guardians and become a permanent resident with others of their Occupation. Any questions?" Ten hands are raised yet again and each student asks questions, mostly asking her to clarify the meaning of certain words. After each question is answered, she continues her lesson.

There are three types of families. Most are born of Parents that conceive as an Occupation. After a certain age, or if too many… complications arise, those Parents also serve as Guardians for the rare child orphaned before the age of seventeen. Few are born into families whose parents have other Occupations. Who can tell me how many children those types of parents can have?

Gratia points to a little girl in the back of the class closest to me. One! she shouts with much enthusiasm.

That’s very close. Those parents are limited to one successful pregnancy, but sometimes twins or triplets or more are born at one time. At that moment, a bell rings, signifying the thirty minute lunch and restroom break. Everyone silently rises from their desks to walk in a single-file line behind their Teacher.

The kindergarten and first grade classes fill the hallways as they head to the cafeteria. There are whispers here and there, but they’re all very well-mannered. They grab their trays and are handed an entrée (either PB&J or grilled chicken nuggets), apple slices, carrot sticks, boxed juice and paper cups with water. Their meals are provided courtesy of the City. 

I take a seat beside Gratia as her class is seated. Hi Ms. Gratia, I say teasingly.

She chuckles lightly, Hey.

The remainder of the time is spent in silence and then the class heads back to their room. I watch Gratia as she paces gracefully while lecturing on the history of The Nation. I was able to participate in their physical education lessons, keeping pace with the jumping jacks, push-ups and sit-ups and I even raced Gratia (it was a tie).

Soon after, school lets out. As the last of her students steps onto the bus, Gratia turns to me. So Nimrah… what brought you here today? It’s been a while.

Can’t a woman be ‘spontaneous’ every now and then? I just needed some… I pause as I try to come up with the right word. Companionship.

Yes, well we could all use a bit of that now and then- you especially. You hardly ever speak to anyone outside of The Hospital.

This is true, I agree. Do you mind if I hang out with you today or did you already have plans? I ask cautiously, suddenly aware that my impromptu visit may not have been the best idea.

Of course we can hang out. I could use some socialization myself… with people above the age of six, she says laughingly. We both shake our heads at the same time as we take stock of our meager social life and then laugh in unison. So I hope you don’t mind heading to my place. I can cook dinner while we catch up, she states.

Sure, sounds great!

A van pulls to a stop in front of us. This particular van is meant to take the Teachers to their residency. The Driver eyes my visitor’s pass as I step on behind Gratia, but doesn’t say anything, assuming correctly that I am riding to the Teachers’ Residency as a friend.

Gratia doesn’t live that far from me. The Nurses’ Residency is fairly central to all of the other residencies having to be so close to The Hospital. We arrive at a small Apartment complex made out of brick. We enter her three bedroom unit which she shares with two other female Teachers. This is a co-ed building, each floor alternating the genders it holds.

Both of her roommates are home and they are entertaining a guest. He is at least six feet tall with an olive complexion. He wears half his black shoulder-length hair in a ponytail, the rest hangs loosely. His light brown eyes warm and a smile softens the strong features of his face as Gratia enters the room. Hey sis, long time no see.

"Wow, today must be my lucky day. I get a visit from my friend and my brother on the same day and it’s not even my day off," she says warmly as she embraces her brother. After the hug, Gratia heads straight to the kitchen to get dinner prepared.

I give a small hello to all in the room and am about to head to the kitchen to see if Gratia could use some help when her brother takes a quick step toward me.

He clears his throat and shoves his hands in his pockets. Hey. You probably don’t remember me so I’ll reintroduce myself- I’m Honestum, Gratia’s twin of course, he says with a wink. We were all schooled together. I sat behind you during one of the Tests, he states.

Oh. I’m sorry I don’t remember those details exactly- I’m not very observant when it comes to people. I do recall Gratia telling me that you scored the highest ranking for Law Enforcement that year.

Yes, he says, seeming slightly embarrassed. There is an awkward silence in the room, excluding the sounds of pots and pans as Gratia prepares our meal. Without saying another word or giving a second glance, I head to the kitchen.

Let me help, I offer, as I pull my hair into a quick bun to keep it out of my face. I roll my sleeves to wash my hands in the sink when she begins to protest.

I’ve got this Nimrah. You should go chat with the others in the common room. I’ll have dinner ready in about thirty minutes.

No thank you, I whisper. "We are supposed to be catching up remember. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve cooked for so many people- my roommates and