Hello, how do you do? I'm Avery; it's nice to meet you.

Well. This is interesting. My post is at a commander's house. Never thought I'd live to see the day.

They like me, I think. How could they not? The wife - I think her name is Lynn, I can't be sure - pinched my cheeks and commented on my "striking blue eyes." The commander - whose name I don't know - came up to me. We stood at eye level, though he's at the age where he would begin to shrink. I know I'm about six feet tall. I'd like to see myself be taller than him, but that might never happen. I'm young, fresh out of the academy, eighteen years of age. They may want me as an angel. Maybe I'll become a commander one day and have my own wife and one of those mysterious handmaids.

I met her today. Short blond hair, brown eyes. Her name is odd. Oftim. She looks so out of place in her red garbs. I'm sure she's not too fond of my dark green ones, either. Maye one day, when the world is free again, I can take her ice skating. I've never ice skated before. It was never cold enough. But maybe, up here in the north, the lakes can freeze over and I can escape.

This life is not for me. I need to be doing something with my hands. At least I can wash the car. Perhaps the Marthas will let me cook sometime? My mother taught me to cook so long ago. I hope I can remember how to make something.

My last night in the academy, I had a dream. It was a frightening dream, probably better to be called a nightmare. No one would talk to me. It was as if I had disappeared off the face of the earth, and only a spirit or a memory of me remained. They didn't hear me no matter how often or loudly I screamed out. I was nothing to them. Once in the dream, a figure in green glanced in my direction, but continued on her way.

I don't know what it means. I'm afraid to find out.