[ WP ] In the realm where souls reside before we 're born , everything is pretty great . There 's no poverty , no one wants for anything , everyone knows their role and purpose . It is , essentially , perfect . But that perfection is accomplished via draconian law : the only punishment is the `` birth penalty ''

They send him to the rehabilitation center first. He comes home and our parents ask him what he learned. He talks about our history, about how the elders operate under the great law and I can feel my parents' relief radiate through the kitchen. My father clasps one hand on my brother's shoulder. `` Good boy,'' he says. `` Good man.'' 
 
 But later, at night, my brother sneaks into my room with a flashlight and crawls into bed with me. He pulls the covers over the both of us like when we were younger and would make forts. `` It's not right,'' he whispers. `` What they're doing. You ca n't punish someone forever. They have to let them back when they're ready.'' 
 
 My eyes widen. `` You do n't know what you're talking about. We ca n't let anyone with the birth penalty come back.'' 
 
 `` They take away everything from them. They take away their memories. They make them make new memories, and then they take those away. Forever and ever. It is n't right.'' 
 
 I do n't know what to say. My hands are slick with perspiration. 
 
 Three weeks later he bursts into my room, agitated with excitement. `` I'm going to go,'' he tells me. `` I'm going to be born. I know how to get back. I'm going to tell the other born souls what happened. I'll help them get back.'' 
 
 My stomach drops. I do n't know what to do. It's illegal to even speak like my brother is. If I tell anyone, he'll be condemned to be born for sure. `` You ca n't - `` 
 
 `` I'm going to go. I know how to keep my memories even after they send me, I think. I put it in a notebook. It's in my room, under the loose floorboard. If I'm not back, read it. You can come and help me.'' 
 
 `` I ca n't listen to this,'' I say. I close my eyes. 
 
 `` Do n't worry,'' he says. `` You're going to be my favorite memory that I bring with me.'' 
 
 `` You ca n't - `` I start, but he's all ready gone, running out of the room. I hear the front door slam behind him. I lay in bed and count my breaths until my hands stop shaking. A few minutes later, I hear the sirens.
