Parent

Dear Diary

Living in this world has disconnected me from my true self and nature. When I was a small child, I grew up on a farm. My family comes from a generation of farmers. I vaguely remember what it feels like to be in a wide-open space with fresh air, tall trees, and sunshine on my face. My mother believed in connecting and learning from nature. All living things were sacred to her. She taught me how to give love and gratitude to nature and all its gifts.

Now I live in a tiny white modular home. In a place that has little to no, green space. The only piece of nature I have is a snake plant I’ve had since I was a little girl. My mother and I planted it together from a seed. Every time I look at this plant I am reminded of my mother and the peace we once felt together on the farm.

Everything I do is monitored; there is 24/7 surveillance on myself and the people. The technology is very advanced here, all my money, access keys and personal information are on one card. This card is the pass that only gives me access to certain areas in the city. I work as a hairstylist in the city. I am not allowed to accept tips. I am required to follow specific haircutting guidelines for Men, women, and children. I do as I’m told because I am grateful my job hasn’t been replaced by a robot like many of my friends.

Snake Plant

I barely talk to the people who live here. No one can be trusted. I have 2 women who I communicate with through paper and pen. We burn the letters after we read them because we express our concerns about the robots taking over the city. If anyone ever found out, we would be taken from our homes and sent where the lower class live. It’s a horrible place where people are forced to work as slaves to the robot facilities.

My daughter needs me I can’t risk losing her. We are all each other has and I must remind her often that this world wasn’t always this way. I tell her often of her grandmother and how free-spirited she was. She was grounded to the earth, nothing and no one could stand in her way. It is my goal to raise my daughter as brave as my mother was. I know right now she is young and thinks technology is “cool” but the reality is it’s up to my daughter's generation to put an end to this crazy world.

We live very isolated lives, there is a daily curfew, all students are forced to do online learning, children don’t get to play sports, and no one is allowed to leave and go on vacations. It makes me sad to think my daughter won’t know what it’s like to swim in the ocean. I worry about her not having many social interactions with her friends. She’s always on her phone, in front of the computer or watching tv.

I miss my husband dearly. He is a highly skilled robotics engineer. Due to the numerous mandates that were implemented during the epidemic his skills were required to be part of the Secret Robot Services. He resides at the government’s main headquarters for classified reasons. The only way for us to communicate is by pen and paper. He is the reason I am aware of the corruption behind the epidemic.

I am secretly trying to get more women together to form a resistance against this government so our children can grow up with the freedom of life they deserve.

Xo Grace