He ran and embraced me in his warmth but I only felt cold.

"Come. We need to get home before curfew," he said with a voice so calm that I knew that he was about to cry.

I walked with him through the narrow dust covered streets. Laced with laundry hanging on lines above our heads and walls on either side with opening every few feet, houses. Tables sat every few feet that displayed goods that people wanted to trade for food.

On and on we seemed to walk forever until we reached our home. It was as meger as every other one. Just a small building with one room. Like every other house in Block 11.

We walked in and I sat down on the floor in front of the table that was at the back of the room. David stayed standing next to the doorway.

" Maryn, I..." he started.

"No! Don't you dare talk to me after you decide to through your life away!" I screamed at him.

"Food is short and this is the last year I'll be young enough to Sign. I just want you to live better and maybe I have a chance." he ranted. Trying to convince me that him dying was OK. But it wasn't!

"Have you Signed yet?" I asked, hoping that he hadn't and I still had a chance to convince him.
"Um... I..." He started but I already knew what was coming.