Erin Pyrchla

Cutting Out the Past

I knew it. I fucking knew it. You can think whatever you want in your mind just don’t let it come out of your mouth. That’s all that was racing through my head when I looked over at the red flashing numbers that burned into my eyes; it forced me to close them for the first time for more than a second in two days. The overwhelming burning that came from the mixture of lack of sleep and and wind-sprints can only be compared to that of the one-hundred and three degree fever I experienced as a child. I was exhausted and out of time. Today was our weekly weigh in and I knew I was going to be over. This happens to us “bleeders” as we are now referred to. Once upon a time we were people. Now we are merely scoffed at by the droids as collateral damage. Too much “cargo” and the ship does not travel at optimum speed. All we can figure out is that when there is too much of “us”, they make sure we make it right. And by make it right that is what I had to do. I had to bring my weight down by three ounces. But back to being a “bleeder”, I currently have my period so my weight is up. Every third to forth week like clockwork unless I starve myself I am over my weight allotment. With food being as scarce as it is there is no turning away a free meal if it is presented to you. I don’t know about you but I did not fall down and bump my head and forget that in this new utopian society that we were promised is not all that it’s cracked up to be.