The Many Shades of Gray

It was a strange day, when the color disappeared.

The radiant gold of the shining sun, the burning crimson of fire, the endless cerulean of the sky.

No one could have predicted what happened.

It was a strange day, when they came.

They told us we needed this for the better of the capital, for the better of our world. But what about the better of the citizens?

They said they wanted peace, but if they wanted peace why did they come with guns?

If they wanted peace, why did they take my mother with them?

If they wanted peace, why did she die?

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I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw the look on my father’s face. I was told to come to the checking room, where the monthly checkings took place. When I walked in, The People immediately blocked the door, their guns pointed my way. My heart raced as I tried futilely to stay calm.

“Please sit down,” the doctor ordered in a soft, feminine voice. As I walked, the guards trained their guns on me. The doctor inspected my face, then noticed the fear in my eyes.

“Now, honey, there’s nothing to worry about,” she reassured, getting a needle ready.

“Then what’s with the guns?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. She gave me a sad smile.

“Earlier today, we had some issues, so it’s merely a precaution.” I raised my eyebrows, noting her fake smile. She raised the needle, but instead of to my arm as usual, it was towards my eye. I jumped back, frightened. The People seized me immediately, pinning my arms behind my back.

“What are you doing?” I yelled, as The People fastened me to the chair. The doctor sighed.

“It’s a new procedure; us doctors must implement shots into citizen’s eyes. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt,” she reassured, seeing my shock.

Despite my protests, she raised the needle, and before I could think, it was in my eye.

The world swam, all the colors turning to gray. I let out a helpless sob as I drowned into a world of darkness.

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i opened my eyes to black.

pure black.

the black of a crow’s feathers,

the black of charcoal,

the black of my heart.

i couldn’t remember why i was here, let alone who i was. i went over the basic facts in my head. my name is lyssa monroe, i was of the year 73 era 2, i live with my mother and father, and our world was ruled by the people. a few years ago, there was news that the ruling was changing to this group who called themselves the people. they were supposed to help our world and slow the end that seemed so close.

maybe they stopped the world’s end, but they didn’t stop the end of the citizens.

my vision slowly came back, but something was wrong. the color was simply gone.

everything was gray.

nothing but gray.

g r a y

i looked around, trying to find any bit of color. where was the pale blue of the house i hated so much? where was the red of the blanket my mother made? where was the green of the eyes in the mirror?

my father gasped as I sat up.

“lyssa, you’re awake!” he rushed over to the side of my bed.

“is it really gone?” i whispered, shocked that they could really do such a thing. he looked at me sorrowfully.

‘it’s not really that important, we can still go on with life, and maybe it will wear off, and maybe-” his voice drifted off as i stared at the empty bed next to mine.

“where’s mom?” i asked, fearing the worst. she couldn’t have been the reason for the guards there.

father’s face fell.

“no!” i shouted. i felt a high pitched ringing noise and the world spun.

“they couldn’t have!” i cried out, clutching my pillow as if it would bring her back.

she was gone.

my mom was gone.

and they killed her.

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she has always been rebellious. my father always said she would be punished for it. he never though it would be like this.

tears streamed down my face as i held her picture in my hands. my mom, who went through so many struggles for me. my mom, who died standing up for herself. my mom, who was gone.

i looked at my father, who was staring off, as if seeing something no one else could.

“she would have hated not being able to see color,” my father murmured. “it was her whole life.”

i gazed at the empty world of gray.

color is my life, too.

not anymore.

i looked at my father, the one who was always sensible, and who accepted the rules without a thought.

i must have inherited my rebelliousness from my mom.

knowing this was probably suicidal, i grabbed my worn jacket from the hook and bolted out the door, ignoring the protests of my father.

i ran the whole way there, footsteps pounding against the slick cobblestone road.

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as i neared the city hall, i began to second-guess myself.

but what was a life without color?

not a life at all.

the people stood surrounding the massive building, a dark shade of gray.

it used to have a color, but i couldn’t remember what.

i couldn’t remember any color.

my heart raced as i clung to the memory of the yellow of dandelion fields

as i clung to the memory of the green of the trees looming overhead

as i clung to the memory of the blue of my mother’s eyes

all i saw was gray.

i sprinted to the doors, oblivious to the shouts of the people. the doors entered to a large room filled with articles about how the people would help us. if only that was true.

behind me, the people thrust open the doors.

i heard the click of a gun.

and then i heard nothing.

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It was then it came back to me.

Violet, turquoise, magenta, fuchsia, chartreuse, ebony, all of them.

The last thing I remember was my mother. Her warm smile, the hair she kept long, the colorful patches on her clothes.

Then it all went black.