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monitored, so I hope the people feel better about that and not less secure. I never really thought about how they would feel about the changes.
    When I got there it felt weird not to see it being manned by the guards. I went through the gate looking for Malik and walked right into Zara.
    “Zara! How have you been? It’s been much too long.”
    She eyes me warily for a moment, which kind of puts me on edge.
    “Roz, it’s good to see you too. What brings you here?” The suspicion in her eyes knocks me off guard.
    “I came to talk to Malik and see how everyone is now the ban is lifted.”
    “Ah, yes, the ban. Malik has informed us of all the changes that will occur soon. He is at his house now doing some planning. You can find him there. I really need to get going.” She walks away.
    I am stunned. I can’t for the life of me figure out why she’s acting so cold; if I’m not mistaken, there was also a hint of resentment in her demeanor.
    I go to Malik’s dwelling and knock on the door. After a moment he opens it, looking the most tired I’ve ever seen him.
    “Hi, Malik. Is everything okay?”
    He smiles softly and opens the door wide. “Rosaline, what a pleasure. Please come in and have a seat.”
    I sit down next to a desk where he has obviously been working. He looks exhausted.
    “Malik, is everything all right here? I’m starting to get worried. Zara didn’t seem herself and you look so worn out. What’s going on?”
    He smiles sadly and sighs. “Things have been a little shaken up around here since the ban was lifted.”
    “I’m so confused. Did the people not want it lifted? I thought lifting it would be a good thing. Didn’t we talk about that?”
    I’m so confused because in my mind, Malik has been helping me fight the Council and lift the ban. If that isn’t what the people want, why would he help me?
    “No, Roz, it’s not that. All of us are here for our own reasons but we all have something in common. Though we all wanted to leave the Ministry for different reasons, in a way we really are outcasts. We either don’t fit the mold, or we have been burned by the rules and regulations enforced by the Ministry. Some people, such as Zara, are haunted by memories of the Ministry or the Zones. The ban really wasn’t needed because nobody wanted to leave. We got used to the gate and the guards.”
    “Malik, I’m totally lost. If you didn’t want the ban lifted why didn’t you say something? I thought I was doing you all a favor.”
    “Calm down, Roz. You did. It’s not that we didn’t want it lifted. There are many benefits that come along with the lifted ban. The access to medical care is the biggest, but also seeing family members who are still in the Zones, and not having to feel like a caged animal. However, with freedom there is always a price. The price we have to pay is a bit steep for some people.”
    I don’t understand what price he is talking about. As far as I know nothing has changed except them being free to come and go as they please.
    “What price do they have to pay?”
    “We aren’t a group of outcasts as the Council may see us. We are a family, all of us. We are a tight knit community and we are safe and protected because of it. By lifting the ban we now have some new freedoms, but our home, our community, the security we have worked so hard to build, is now being threatened by opening it up to all. By making us a Free Zone you are exposing us and making us vulnerable. Our children won’t be as safe to run free, because we don’t know if we can trust new people or not. I’m not saying making it free is wrong, but you’ve got to see it from their point of view, Roz. You might be giving the people in the Zones more freedom, but in doing so you are taking away some of ours,” he said, looking at me sadly.
    It’s like I have been punched in the stomach. He’s right. I never even thought for a minute how it would negatively affect these people. I thought only of the