Before

My eyes are glued to the screen, as are everyone's in Panem's currently. I watch as Peeta and Katniss pick up the nightlock berries and raise them to their lips. My mother gasps but I can't find myself to be surprised, they love each other so much, they would rather die than have to live without each other. I watch my father as he leans in closer to the screen, trying not to miss any of the most exciting thing that has ever happened to anyone from district 12, and maybe the most exciting thing to ever happened in a hunger games before. "I think they are going to eat them" It's the first time anyone has spoken in maybe ten minutes, and my dad shushes me in response to my comment.

"Be quiet, they are making an announcement" My mom is right, Seneca Carene's voice booms over the arena and he has just announced that there can be two winners again, they have done it. They are victors, they have done what so many people from district 12 couldn't for so many years, they won it all. I watch as the hovercraft takes them away and then the screen goes dark, it's over, we now have two more victors from district 12. Me and my parents just sit in the living room, still reeling from what has just happened. I walk out of the room and go into the bathroom, I just need a little bit of privacy for a few moments. I look at myself in the mirror, I can see my deep green eyes reflecting back at me, my dark brown hair that is in waves, I haven't noticed how much I look like Katniss until now. I mean it's no surprise, everyone from the Seam seems to look the same and she really is only a little bit older than me, by the next hunger games we will both be 17. It might be the fact that we are both so similar that has me freaking out a little bit, if a girl from the Seam can win the hunger games then anything is possible. Even our backgrounds are a little similar, I mean I am an only child but my father is a coal miner, I'm pretty sure he knew her father. I know I have come across Katniss at school before, bought bread from Peeta's family bakery, I know these people who I have spent the past few weeks watching them kill.

"Ember?" I hear my name called, I quickly turn on the sink and throw some water on my face, I can't let my parents know that I am freaking out a little, it already tears them up every single time we have a reaping and the fact that they have just witnessed with me someone my age, from my background winning, probably scares them. I walk out of the bathroom and back into the living room.

"I'm right here mom" I give her a small smile and sit back down on the floor in front of the little couch we have.

"Wasn't that just exciting"

"Best games yet" Both my parents can't hide their excitement, they really are proud for once to be from district 12.

"I can't wait until they should be talking with Cesar Flickerman and when they will be meeting with President Snow" She sounds so excited for all this, in years past it was just another requirement for us to watch, unless the tribute was from our district there was no need to be excited, now we have two reasons to keep tuning in.

"That should be coming up soon" I look around at both of them, how happy they seem about everything, how are they not feeling as overwhelmed as I am?

"I think I'm going to go lie down" I announce.

"You felling okay?"

"Yeah, just tired that's all. I guess I'm worn out from all the excitement"

"That's understandable, there is so much to be happy about" My dad gives me a hug, something that is a little out of the ordinary for him, he must be in a really good mood.

"Be prepared for a whole week of celebration, we should go out into town tomorrow" My mom offers, I smile at her as she pulls me into a hug too.

"That sounds good" I leave them in the living room and walk into my small bedroom, I lay down on the bed and stare up at the ceiling, a million thoughts are running through my head. I think about how much happened, how I watched that little girl die, how everyone had to watch her die. I think about how I watched two people fall in love, I never really thought about falling in love or anyone that I might even be interested in getting to know better, it was such a foreign concept until now, I mean I watched someone my age find the person she will be with for the rest of her life, it puts a lot in perspective. I think about the first act of defiance that has been shown in years, Katniss was going to make history either way, the first hunger games without a victor, or the first with two. So much has happened, so much is going to change now, district 12 is now going to look like a threat, I can't decide if this is a good or a bad thing yet.

The next week is full of excitement and rejoice from all of district 12, we watched Peeta and Katniss talk to Cesar, how they went through the highlights of the games and then went over how they were feeling, everyone, including my family, watched in the square. After their interview we got to watch them be crowned, it was a proud moment for every citizen of district 12, now we stand outside, anxiously waiting for them to arrive. We all stand in a huge crowd and me and my family are around the middle, I am standing on my tip toes trying to get a glimpse of anything. Soon everyone erupts in cheers, the train is pulling into the station, that much I know. Everyone is clapping and I join in, even if I can't see exactly what's going on. I hear the sound of the train doors opening, the cheering gets louder and I try to look around best as I can, I may be considered tall for a girl but I'm nothing compared to all the men that stand around, blocking my view. It was an event for everyone today, we all wanted to be down here to welcome our victors home. I see them as they step out, they look dressed well and fed, I feel a bit of envy, I know they earned all this but it doesn't always make it easier when food isn't always a guarantee, even with someone in the household having a stable job. They take each others hands and hold it up, to show they are united, that they won for district 12 and are proud. I feel something inside of me that I haven't felt before, they both showed me that anything is possible. It's this moment that I know things are going to be different from now on, I can't explain it but living in district 12 suddenly means so much more than it did before.