The Day I Became Free

trembling slightly. "You want me to trade...

in the air, ridi

elf. She wouldn't even look at me. "It's practical, Gabrielle. Caleb

forts, all the sacrifices, the extra shifts, the money I'd given them for rent, the times I'd covered for Caleb's

quiet, but it felt heavy, final. "

voice. She just nodded, relieved. "Good.

kipping ahead of us. A cheerful woman in a brig

you here to make a trade?" she chirped,

forward. "She wants to trade her gratitud

o inform you, as per the rules of the show and the contract, this is an irreversible exchange. The process involves a full memory scan and a public

at the complexity. "What does all that mean? Is it going to

legally binding process. It means you would n

d respond, Caleb

do that! I want the PSX-Pro! Please!" He started to stomp his feet, hi

" I tried again, a last, desperate attem

a used one! I want that one! I want to see you give

ay just beneath his entitlement. He didn't ju

ven's sake, Caleb, stop making a scene." She turned to m

r mother's shoulder. "See?

he broke our grandmother's vase and I took the blame. The time he stole money from my wallet and I

," Maria snapped, her voi

me. It's just a TV gimmick, I told myself. It can't be real. They're just saying that

stylus. I signed my name, Gabri

e last