Two weeks. That's how long Aiden had until it all changed. Normally teens looked forward to their 18th birthday. Not so for Aiden. Not for an orphan in this broken system.
"What the hell do you expect me to do? You're just going to kick me out on the streets with no money or place to stay!?" Aiden demand in the counclers office. He was an agressive boy. Not by nature, but he'd always had to be. Being smaller than the other orohans of his age, he'd needed to show that he was no pushover. In an environment where the bullies would steal your measly few food vouchers at the slightest sign of vulnerability, hyper aggression was the only way for a weak loaner to survive. Even so, he'd gone plenty of days hungry. Maybe why his growth was so stunted. He looked like he might be 15 at most. His black eye and broken lip was evidence of a recent event like that. And it was a sign of being a delinquent to any potential employers or adoptive parents. Who'd want a rabid dog like him?
"Aiden, you won't be left completely high and dry. The state will still provide you with vouchers for the next year. And there are available facilities to sleep in at the..." The councler droned on in a tired voice. It was easy to think of her as just another uncaring cog in the machine, but Aiden remembered when she'd been new and fully invested in helping all these orphans. And she still was, just not with the energy. There were too many orphans and too little social workers. Underfunded and broken system. But the dark haired youth didn't have anyone else to direct his anger at.
"You're just sending me to live in a homeless shelter! It's like you just toss us into the trash the moment we're no longer cute enough to get adopted. Like we're no more than animals. Sold as pets or sent to be slaughtered!"
"Aiden, you're being dramatic," the councler said, though she did not contradict his accusation. She sighed.
"Would you concent to an experimental program? The state is trying to implement a better program for young adults with uncertain career paths."
Aiden crossed his armed sceptically. "What kind of program?'
"It's a series of tests. Medical, physical and psychological, to better understand you and find the jobs that best suit you. And to help adapt you to said task."
"What do you mean?" Aiden said through his scowl.
"Remember William?" the councilor asked. Aiden did. The bastard had called Aiden a fag boy and further isolated him socially.
"He was a year or two older than me. The place improved a lot with that bastard gone."
"Yes, be that as it may. He took the program and was found to have an aptitude for construction work. With that recommendation, he was given medicin to help bulk him up even more for the heavy work. And he got a fast track into that line of work. He might not even have known that's what he'd be suited for otherwise and ended up working in a grocery store instead. And you and I know that customer service would not be ideal for him."
Aiden steered at the floor for a bit. But what better choice did he have? When he'd been little and more naive, he'd hoped every night for a loving family to adopt him. Or his unknown real parents would come find him and explain that someone had stolen him and left him at the orphanage as a baby. And that they'd been looking for him all this time. He still hugged his pillow in secret at night, imagining he could hug his daddy. To get back his lost childhood. Then he'd hump his pillow until he came, and be filled with shame and confusion. And be angry at himself for even being vulnerable in the privacy of his own bed. He feared what closeted sides of himself this test might reveal. Would it expose his weaknesses?
Aiden got up from the chair and began passing back and forth. "If I take these tests, can I chose to not except the job?"
"Not really. Technically you can, but you'd have to opt out of the whole support program all together. No vouchers or accommodations."
Aiden gritted his teeth. "You said something about medicines?"
"Yes. Some jobs require more muscle, like construction. There are many ways to help you better suit your job." That sounded more enticing to Aiden. He'd always hated being so small and weak. If he were big, he'd be safe.
"Okay! I'll do it."
"Excellent. Sign these papers and I'll get you an appointment."