Recovered Letter 1 from Erin Koszt, addressed to her mother.

  Sep 8, 2056

  Hey mom,

  I know it’s been a while since I last wrote. Sorry, it’s just been a bit hectic these last few weeks. Having to get all of my paperwork together while fixing up the rentals isn’t easy. Not to mention I still have to babysit Mr. Bishop.

  I recently enlisted in the infantry. Obviously dad was pissed, but I told him it would happen one day. He really has no room to talk, given how long he’s served. My mind was made up about this long ago. I’m not about to let someone else dictate my life, especially not out of fear.

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  I understand it’s not the safest job ever, but I want to make a difference. We can’t keep letting the Actives run the world, and I want to be a part of reclaiming it. Plus, there’s a reason dad taught me to take care of myself, right? I have a civic duty to uphold, just like everyone else, and I want to see the world beyond the fence.

  Anyway, we’ll keep it at that. I’ll be moving out to basic training soon, but hopefully I can still find time to write you a letter from there. No doubt I’ll have a lot to tell you about during my first few weeks in the cage. Thinking about it does make me nervous, but I hope you can also see how excited I am, and that I didn’t do this on a whim. It will be good for me, just wait and see. This is a chance to really do something with my life.

  So yeah, that’s all I really have to say. Hope you and Oscar are having a good time together. I think about you both a lot. Give him a hug for me, and save me some pancakes.

  Love you,

  Erin