‘Life begins at Portal’ we all chanted in unison, hand on heart, as we did every morning at affirmation, and most of us believed it. We believed that Portal was the doorway to destiny, the entry point to the life you deserved, the life of which you had proved yourself worthy. The first 17 years were but a preparation, an opportunity to become the best version of yourself, to gather the precious Portal Points which would determine your future.
No one was certain for what or by whom points were allotted, how they were earned or forfeited, how records were kept or how to access them. We knew only that we must accrue as many points as possible with diligence and obedience before we passed through the portal on our 17th birthday.
There were those who gave credence to rumours that the portal was the entrance to hell or the doorway to death, a mechanism to cull the population, whispers, and speculation which no one could entirely refute. For though so many had passed through the portal, not one had ever returned.
Posted in response to @jayna's microfiction contest
The prompt this week is PORTAL
The image is my own