"Mama, Mama, help me get home

I’m out in the woods,

I am out on my own

I found me a werewolf, a nasty old mutt

It showed me its teeth and went straight for my gut

Mama, Mama, help me get home

I’m out in the woods, I am out on my own

I was stopped by a vampire, a rotting old wreck

It showed me its teeth and went straight for my neck

Mama, Mama, put me to bed

I won’t make it home, I’m already half-dead

I met an Invalid, and fell for his art

He showed me his smile and went straight for my heart"

-Lauren Oliver

-Chi-Ya Zhou-

     Every year since Kindergarten, first day homework was to brush up on the history of

amor deliria nervosa. The government-issued high school edition of Amor Deliria Nervosa

was the only textbook around anymore. This was probably to serve as an old reminder of

the "burden of the Old Days" and to make it stand out from the other electronically-

stored textbooks of math, science, history, and language that all students now carried

around in tiny portable Pods.

I sat down with my fresh bowl of fruit, bit back a sigh, opened up to the first page, and

began reading.

     We are fortunate enough to be 35 years free from Amor Deliria Nervosa, and blessed

for 30 years with a cure in the form of a procedure for all 16-year olds.

In Hong Kong, we pride ourselves for our 99.4% success rate for procedures, with one of 

the lowest number of Invalids living among us in all of Asia.

In the Old Days, people did not realize how dangerous Amor Deliria Nervosa was; they

viewed love as something good, something that when obtained makes one happy.

Now, we see the real truth of why love is so dangerous: Amor Deliria Nervosa affects the

mind in a way unlike anything else; it does not allow one to think rationally or clearly, and it

makes them puts their own selfish interests in front of the well-being of mankind in

general. It is so addictive that once the disease takes hold of your mind, only the

procedure can get rid of it.

Back in the Old Days, people had other diseases that they named cancer, heart disease,

anxiety, bulimia, depression, stress, insomnia, ADHD, and many others; they were

completely ignorant to the fact that these were symptoms of Amor Deliria Nervosa and 

its irrational, unhealthy side effects.

The procedure cannot be performed on those under the age of 16, so the disease still

moves around us, a choking tendril, a thick cloud, a mass of evil, threatening the youngest

and most vulnerable among us. Until scientists and researchers improve the procedure so

that it can be performed on those with younger brains, only a portion of mankind will be

safe from this disease.

Those rebelling against the government in terms of amor deliria nervosa and have joined

rebel forces are called Invalids. These are the people who believe in the freedom to love,

and are often driven to madness themselves. They live like wild animals, hiding out in

mountains and forests across the world, but governments quickly find them to have them

cured.

Uncureds are always exposed. Once infected, they must be physically dragged to the

procedure rooms, the disease already rooted deep in the minds, turning them insane. 

Girls who are infected tend to resist more on the way to the procedure; they have torn

their hair out, clawed out their eyes, dragged their nails across their faces and skin,

drawing blood while screaming indecipherable words, on the way towards the procedure

labs. 

Boys, on the other hand, tend to choose a quicker way out, choking themselves to death

or jumping in front of Flexi-Tubes.

Not only does this show how this disease turns one's mind into something horrifying, it

shows how in a single glance between a boy and a girl, one touch, or one word, can affect

any Uncured in a heartbeat, driving them to madness.

Phase One:

-Preoccupation; difficulty focusing

-Dry mouth

-Perspiration, sweaty palms

-Fits of dizziness and disorientation

Phase Two:

-Periods of euphoria; hysterical laughter and heightened energy

-Changes in appetite; rapid weight loss or weight gain

-Fixation; loss of other interests

-Disruption of sleep patterns; insomnia or constant fatigue

-Obsessive thoughts and actions

Phase Three (CRITICAL):

-Difficulty breathing

-Pain in the chest, throat, or stomach

-Complete breakdown of rational faculties; erratic behavior; violent thoughts and fantasies;

hallucinations and delusions

Phase Four (FATAL):

-Emotional or physical paralysis (partial or total)

-Death

Remember, if you see anyone with these symptoms of Amor Deliria Nervosa, call 1-800-

PREVENT. It is your duty as a citizen to turn in these dangerous people and to stay away

from love to protect society from disorder and chaos.

"Chi-ya! Dinner's ready!" my mom calls out.

I slowly closed my textbook and headed downstairs to eat.