By Law
By Law
July 18, 2024
On the morning of August 22, 2027, I met her.
She was my replacement.
She was essentially me, but not quite me. She was toned, fairer skin, fit, well spoken, and required by law.
She introduced herself as Genevieve.
Even her name is better than mine.
“As per the new law, for all public appearances, I will be you. You will remain indoors, out of reach and out of contact with all person or persons. You have squandered nearly 43 years of life with little to show for it. I am to revitalize what is left of your life by making the most of it. I may sound harsh, but it is for the best. No one wants to be seen with a substandard occupant of life. It says much about who a person is by the quality of the people in which they associate.”
This Genevieve was indeed direct. Her tone was formal, almost terse, as she moved about my house. She began an inventory of my belongings for replacement. She noted the upgrades required to my house to make it more “palatable” as she called it. Within 10 minutes, she gave me a receipt for the required changes.
“I have already deducted the expenses from your retirement savings to pay for the necessary changes. In doing so, your balance now falls below the legally required minimum to prevent “destitute” status. The appropriate authorities will be notified and you will have 1 hour in which to vacate the premises to a more suitable locale, in line with your dereliction of duties and current financial means. You may challenge this ruling, in court, once you have deposited the required funds, in advance to secure a hearing.”
Change terse to sterile.
I watched her assume my identity. Looking out the window, the Party’s Law Enforcement Division were already taking positions to surround my house. By the looks of their firearms, they were ready, possibly even anticipating, a violent reaction on my part.
Genevieve turned to me, looked at her designer watch, and asked if I had any statement to make for posterity.
I answered her fait accompli, expecting nothing in return. “What if the law that justifies your actions becomes rescinded in the near future? Will I have financial restitution for your actions today?”
A few seconds transpired for her to listen and almost (robotically) process my words. I took the time to boil some water so I could make a cup of tea that I so enjoy. Genevieve dismissed both my thirst and my words as comical. “The laws of the Party are absolute and thus perfect. There is no need to even think otherwise. Such is the foolishness of those who most need replacement.”
Her digital time read 50 minutes in its countdown. I figured I could wait for the inevitable or act.
I chose the latter.
Instead of pouring the water into the cup, I threw the contents at her face. Then I covered her mouth to prevent anyone outside from hearing her inside response. The fact that Genevieve wanted to scream told me she was of flesh and blood. The fact that she listened to what I had to say, told me she was as unprepared for reality as most authoritarians are.
“Now listen closely. I once had good looks. I still have strength. You have neither. I am going to kick you out of my house and your Party goons will shoot me first then replace you next. You will envy how easy my punishment was compared to yours. Or, you can tell them that I agree to all of your terms. Convince them I am no threat to the Party. Then, the two of us can reside here until someone becomes the wiser. Only the left side of your face is burned. Give them a visual of the right side to buy us time. Who lives and who dies today will depend if you also have brains. What say you?”
Genevieve bought us a week before the inevitable. In that time, I managed to collect what I could carry and boobytrap the house. Reluctantly, Genevieve (whose real name is Jenny) agreed to run with me.
The mountains are said to have the least Party presence. We can live off the land while deciding what to do next. Genevieve knows nothing about life. Hers was a life of schedules and politics. Now, it is about choices and consequences. Now, she has to struggle.
But she won’t have to struggle alone.