It was the day of the reaping that changed my life forever. My sister Katniss helped me dress in a light, white dress. She attached to it a mockingjay pin that she had found somewhere; I assumed she got it from the Hub. "For luck," she said. "You won't get chosen, but have this for luck anyway." I did not want to take it; if she was so sure I would not get chosen, why give it to me? But she insisted, and a part of me was unsure of my chances, so I took it.
My name was only in once. I couldn't remember how many times Katniss' was in, but it was quite a few. The chances of me being picked was almost nothing, but it still could happen. The thought made me feel sick. Katniss had plaited my hair, and my mother kissed me on the cheek before we headed to the reaping. Katniss held my hand, and we headed to the stage where our lives could be changed forever. All I could do was hope and wait.
I was forced away from Katniss, sectioned off and scared. I tried to keep calm, but fear was overwhelming. A strange woman with bright pink hair and strange facial markings came onto the stage suddenly, or, rather she tottered. She stated that her name was Effie Trinket, and that it was the 74th Hunger Games and blah blah. She was rattling on about the games and their history while I was desperately searching the potential tributes for Katniss. I just wanted to hold her hand.
"Ladies first!" Effie's artificial sounding voice rang through the crowd. Silence. I held my breath as she dipped her hand into the slips of paper, swirling them around, choosing. Please not me or Katniss, please not me or Katniss I begged to myself as she delicately lifted a slip out, and opened it up. A moment of suspense and then she announced the name.
"Primrose Everdeen." It was me! But I did not think this with joy or anger or despair. I thought it with cold, sickening fear. Two of the guards pulled me from the crowd, and started to march me up to the stage. I could imagine my mother weeping as I walked to my death, I could imagine Katniss wishing it could be her. Suddenly Katniss jumped out from the crowd and screamed
"I volunteer as tribute!" She had been willing to sacrifice herself for me. I was ready to burst into tears, but I knew I had to be strong. Effie looked down on us but only laughed.
"My dear, you must be Primrose's sister? Touching, this whole thing is, but completely ridiculous!" She blinked a few times. "Why, did you not know that after last year's scandal of most of the tributes being volunteers, volunteering has been disallowed! It makes it more fun!" Katniss' face turned to horror and sadness. She touched her fingers to her lips and raised them in District 12's way. She was then shoved back into the crowd, and I was marched onto the stage. Effie talked to me a bit; how old are you, oh you poor thing, good luck, blah blah blah. It all passed in a sickening blur.
They called the male tribute next; Peeta Mallark, the baker's son. I did not really know him, which I thought was good; it would not hurt me too much if he were to get killed. It horrified me to be thinking like that, but I had to if I were to stand any chance of winning and living.
I said goodbye to my family earlier today. We all cried a little, my mother hugged me tightly and Katniss showed me how to use a knife. She told me that if I could get a knife then I would have a good chance, I could hunt and defend myself. I was pulled away, and I smiled at them, so that if I were to die, their last memory of being with me would be of me smiling.
I am now on my way to the Capitol on a train. I retired to my room after dinner, we did not speak much and I said nothing. I did not want to talk because I knew it would only be about the games. I knew that from the second my name was called it was only going to get harder. My journey had just begun.
