My name is Trysta Adams. Life has been very confusing this past year. I suppose it started when I woke up from an accidental overdose. Before I opened my eyes, I had a chance to reflect on my life. Within a relatively short time, my fiancé dumped me, I was no longer on speaking terms with my family, and I was working at one of the last somewhat acceptable jobs a person could have without being considered a shadow. Once upon a time, those problems could have been considered minor. Those days are long gone. Everything from what a person eats, to what were once considered minor legal infractions, gets reported to the Character Department. People don't walk around with criminal records anymore. Crimes are punishable by execution. Now, every single little thing is important, for better or worse. People are judged on their character score, and that determines how life works out. Shadows have character scores that are unacceptable. Most exist by working as day laborers, or are paid to keep certain purchases off of other's character scores, such as drugs or prostitutes. That is a way that some subvert the system. Anyway, when I opened my eyes, I was offered the chance to have computerized cells injected into my body to work with my brain, and help me make better decisions to improve my life, health and character score. In addition to the new treatment, the guy from work whom I had a major crush on, finally admitted to being interested in me! Life after the treatment was like the doctor described. I was happy, and hopelessly in love. Sometimes though, it seemed like there were pieces missing. I had no idea I was keeping a secret from myself.....a big secret. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Other times it can be dangerous.
