2121

Hope is something of the past, something that humanity does not know.
The last time I had felt it was before the pandemic before more than four billion people were dead. But that time is long and gone and now there is nothing. Determination is rare and perseverance is extinct.
Only one thing has kept me here, in this desolate and unforgiving world: the boy whom I have loved for so many years.
My Ezra, my only surviving gift in this world. Fate was kind enough to spare him.
It’s not the worst situation. We still live in houses–albeit, broken-down ones. We have others around us–survivors who understand each other.
I watch Ezra help an older woman down her porch steps. She smiles warmly at him and pats his calloused hand. A rare smile creeps up on my lips as I relish the thought that I have such an incredible man by my side.
Maybe this life isn’t so bad when Ezra’s here with me.

2122

Ezra is a kind soul, he always was. Even when we entered this post-apocalyptic world, he remained true to himself and shared his care with others. It is one of the many reasons I love him so dearly.
His kindness sprouted a community of survivors. We work together, eat together, smile and laugh together.
It’s the happiest any of us have been in a long time–and Ezra sparks it all. He organizes us, encourages us, and helps us grow. We call him our leader for he is helpful and trustworthy as a great leader should be.
But with such a position, Ezra has grown stressed. I do my best to comfort him but sometimes I fear it’s not enough. He never complains, though, so it couldn’t be that bad.
“Do you think we should expand?” he asks one night as we lay in our usual spot under the night sky.
I ponder the unusual question for a moment. It’s ambitious–I’ll give him that.
“No,” I tell him. “I don’t think so.”
He sighs. “There are all those lone groups out there. I hear they fight each other over territory. If we get them to join, we’ll have a bigger population, more land, and there won’t be any more fighting.”
“I guess you could invite them.”
He mumbles something under his breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, love.” Ezra’s hand grips mine and squeezes hard. I squeeze back.

2123

Two years ago, society was a mess. One year ago, Ezra took control and became our great leader. And now he has built up our country. He took what used to be the wrecked United States of America and converted it into an empire. One beautiful and connected empire. He has done a wonderful service for all of us.
I sit cross-legged on the soft rug of my bedroom. The window is open, allowing a tender summer breeze to blow in. The sun emerges from behind the clouds to soak me in her welcoming golden rays.
I have everything I could desire. I have a respectable partner. I have an elegant and expensive home. I, myself, am treated with adoration and generosity. It is a dream.
And yet, I’m not exactly happy. I’m content, yes, but I barely see Ezra anymore. He’s always busy and usually spends time in other sectors of the country. When he’s home, he’s often irritable and curt.
It’s nothing, though. He’s simply stressed.
Tonight, he will be coming home for two precious days.
I have prepared his favorite meal for him and have cleaned the entire house. I hand-washed each of the rugs and towels to perfection.
When Ezra walks through the door, I greet him by throwing myself into his arms and embracing him. He hugs me back for a moment, then releases me rather quickly. I want to frown, but I do not. Instead, I take his coat and hang it up. I set his place at the table and served him mounds of food. Like many of our past dinners, it is silent.
When he finishes, he stands and says, “Thank you, love. I’m very tired, I think I’ll turn in now.” And then he leaves.
I sigh and clean the kitchen, trying to focus on the two hours we had together before climbing onto the couch, feeling too awkward to sleep next to my own partner.
The next morning, Ezra is much happier. He comes down and kisses my cheek as I cook our breakfast. The light has returned to his eyes and I can catch glances of the boy I fell for seven years ago.
“Let’s go for a walk after breakfast,” he suggests. I smile and nod excitedly.
The Capital Square is always lovely to walk through, but with Ezra by my side, it is heaven. Bypassers smile and nod at us but none speak, and I can finally enjoy the limited time I have with him. With each merchant stand we pass, Ezra’s smile grows wider. Every stand bears a flag of our country, the symbol of government approval.
After a few precious minutes, he stops walking. I lightly tug his arm but to no avail. My gaze follows his.
There is a stand, hidden just behind another, with an elderly lady selling baked goods.
Her stand does not have a flag.
Her stand was not approved by the government.
Her stand was not approved by Ezra.
Immediately, he begins to storm towards her and I grab his wrist begging him to stop. All I wish is to keep walking, I don’t want my time with him to end so soon “Ezra, please, she’s just an old lady. She’s doing nothing wrong. Please,” I plead, but he is not paying attention. “Please.”
He shakes my hand off his wrist and I fall onto the cold cobblestone path. I look up and see my dear lover yelling at the poor woman. She looks terrified. My chest aches.
And then he hits her.
He slaps her right across the face as she cries out, helpless.
I feel the need to throw up.
Eventually, the guards come and Ezra storms off, leaving me to walk home alone.
He’s just having a bad day, that’s all. Sometimes stress gets to a person and makes them do things they regret. He’s still the good man he’s always been. I’m sure it won’t happen again.

2124

It is early in the year 2124. At least, I think so. According to Ezra, it’s been four years since the end. It’s interesting, the way Ezra speaks of it. “The end of the world,” he calls it. “The end of a cruel society.”
Ezra rushes into my bedroom and I jump. He wasn’t supposed to be home today. Still, I smile and greet him with a tentative kiss on his cheek.
The scene from last year has been playing on repeat in my head. I can’t seem to forget it, no matter how hard I try to.
The voice in my head hasn’t stopped crying but I’ve grown skilled at ignoring it. I will not give up this new life I have.
Despite how much he’s changed, I know Ezra still loves me. He’s never hurt me, never tried to hit me. I take that fact and hold it tightly.
I glance back at him. His cheeks are red and he is panting. In his hand is a bunch of papers crumpling under his grip. “I’ve done it”, he whispers.
I bite my lip. “You’ve done what?”
“I figured out how to make a perfect society.”
“What?”
“Here, I’ll show you.” Ezra sits and spreads out the papers. There are five total, each labelled with big letters: RESPONSIBILITY, MANNERS, INTELLIGENCE, ETHICS, and PERSONALITY, respectively. In the lines are nearly illegible scribbles and drawings. “I call it the Humanity Test. It examines those who take it and find their role in society more efficiently than ever before.”
“What if it can’t find a place you belong?” I ask.
“That won’t happen.”
“But what if it does?” I grab Ezra’s arm and shake, trying to bring back his senses. The fire in his eyes frightens me.
“If someone is so utterly useless that they fail, then there is no role for them in society. But I suppose they could be used for manual labor.”
I can barely hide my disgust. The way he has created this test is to label people…organize them and throw away the ones not of use to him. What is he possibly thinking?
“Ezra,” I plead as my hand reaches for his. “Just because someone isn’t helpful doesn’t make them useless. They could still be important to family and friends.”
He breaks away and deadpans, “Our only purpose is to fit into society and make it grow.” Ezra’s dark gray eyes meet mine and I stare into them. His gaze is intense and I wish to break away but I cannot.
“What about love?” I question, not breaking eye contact.
His gaze softens and he wraps his arms around me. “Love is important too,” he mumbles. I cringe at the apathy in his voice and grab his arms.
Ezra breaks away. “So,” he begins. “Will you be one of my testers?”
“I don’t really want to,” I mutter. I’d hate to reject him, but I can’t stand the idea of Ezra finding something that would make him love me less.
“Come on, love. Please?”
I sigh. After a moment’s silence, I reply, “Fine.”

0001

Since his announcement of the Humanity Test, Ezra has decided that we will no longer keep track of the old years. He said that we will start anew.
It has been months since I took the test. Ezra sits on the chair opposite me at the table. I set down the book I was reading.
“Are you alright?” I ask.
He folds his hands together and looks me in the eyes. His stare burns through my bones. “The results are in.”
“And?” Anxiety floods my senses.
“Everyone provided good scores. Except you.”
The words shatter me.
He continues. “You did well on most of it–but the ethics and personality portions show that you think mostly with your heart. That’s dangerous to a functional society.”
I break in, “But you know me! Do you really think I’m a danger?”
He slams his hand down on the table as he says sternly, “You could be. That’s why you’re being sent away. You’re going to a secluded, gated location where you will work for the rest of your life.”
I feel like I’m floating in space. Like everything is far below me and I will fall to my death at any given moment.
Within seconds, I’m on the floor, sobbing. “Please, Ezra, my love, don’t do this. Don’t send me away. You still love me, don’t you?”
He looks down at me and mutters, “Not anymore.”
Finally, I see what everyone else has been.
Before, I was seeing my Ezra. The love of my life, the man who could do no wrong. But everyone else was seeing our great leader.
He stands above everyone else, eyes filled with hunger. His cravings have destroyed him. He will never be satisfied.
There is no trace of the boy from high school nor the man I thought him to be.
A demon takes his place. I do not know this monster.
I reach for his hand in an attempt to see if the one I love is still in there, somewhere. He does not take it.

0003

Inside the grand brick house, a couple is putting on their shoes and jackets. Ezra runs a hand through his hair and glances over at the girl.
She is nineteen and studying to become a medical expert. Her test score is one of the highest so far.
Ezra grabs her by the arm and pulls her close. “Ready to go, love?” he asks.
She smiles and nods.