Exceptional grades had earned him an internship as a state-processor for the Commodity Trade Convention Center. At 19 years old, he was both excited and nervous. His mother had insisted that he wear the suit she had bought him on his first day of work, and it hung awkwardly on his frame, making him feel self-conscious.
As he stood there in his ill-fitting suit, he watched as the Armed Security Guards escorted a dozen tired, cold, and hungry children into the holding room. His hands were shaky as he held the tag scanner, a device that would confirm each child’s name and number. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease and guilt as he went through the motions, marking these young lives for their initial sale price.
He couldn’t look the new commodities in the eyes. Each child was a walking testament to a system that had reduced them to mere assets, and he was now a cog in that dehumanizing machine.
Meanwhile, the Nurse, with over 40 years of experience in her profession, cut a striking figure. She wore a starched navy blue uniform and a white pinafore apron, her gray hair pulled back into a tight bun, adorned with an old faded nursing cap. Her eyes, though weary from years of service, still held a glint of compassion.
She scrutinized each commodity’s health and verified their age. Her experienced hands gently examined them, seeking out any signs of physical distress or illness. She reviewed the suggested commodity classification of each child to ensure accuracy, and she wasn’t afraid to make adjustments when necessary.
Children marked as physically broken, possible trouble-makers, or those who were panic-stricken were given sedatives under her watchful eye. It was a grim process, but she had learned to steel herself against the tide of emotions that threatened to engulf her. With a sense of duty that ran deep, she made sure these young souls were prepared, in whatever way possible, for their uncertain future.
As the children were escorted by the guards to the convention center floor and placed in viewing cells, the Nurse couldn’t help but wonder how the world had come to this. She had dedicated her life to healing and caring for others, yet here she was, complicit in a system that treated children like commodities to be bought and sold. But for now, all she could do was fulfill her role as the Nurse and hope for a better future for those who deserved so much more.