I can't believe that was one year ago.
'One year ago, I was drawn at the reaping. Like a distant memory, I remember that horrible day. It was my fifteenth birthday and Angela, Mercy, and I checked into the reaping. The memory skips to Effie Trinket saying, "My the odds be ever in your favor. Ladies first," as I watched her drop her over styled nails into the bowl. A bowl that held someone's death. The crowded trembled as she announced the name, "Tessa Quint."
I froze at the sound of my name and began a dazed walk surrounded by guards. My only friend, Rose, reached out to me, but a guard pulled her away. My sisters Mercy and Angela looked at me, their eyes feeling with tears. I tried to look for my brother Matt in the crowd, but the guards surrounding me blocked my view. As they dragged me away, I realized that it was real. I was the tribute. I was going to die.
Angela suddenly yelled from the crowd, "I volunteer as tribute!" I stared at her in horror. She was volunteering her life over mine. I started to refuse, but my voice was muffled by the crowd.'
The rest of that week we got watched Angela fight in the games. Shortly after she died, she was unwilling to kill anyone and the Careers struck. We watched her die, away from Mercy, Matt, and I. Rose stayed with us that night. She watched as I cried and hugged me. She held Matt's hand and sang a song for Mercy. She saved us.
Now I am walking to the reaping again. Mercy is thirteen now, her name in twice. Matt's and my names are both in twenty. Twenty times. Despite what Effie says the odds aren't in my favor. If I am picked again I will not have Angela to save me and Mercy has less of a chance than me. As Mercy and I separated I stood along side Rose with the rest of the sixteen-year-olds. The people in the crowd awkwardly fumble along waiting for Effie to take the stage. I catch Matt's eye from across the crowd, we both remember this day as Angela's end. I start to think about my name in the bowl of names, but Matt has it worse. Matt has no one to volunteer for him if he is drawn. His only friend is Angela, his only family Mercy and I.
While I was lost in thought, Rose had to nudge me because Effie had taken the stage. I looked up as she rambled on to full of emotion to listen. Finally I caught the words, "May the odds be ever in your favor, ladies first." I watched as her hand fished in the bowl, selecting the name of some unlucky child.
Suddenly her fingers closed around a name. "Mercy Quint." I watched as the guards grabbed my sister unable to respond. I stood on my tiptoes, unsure of what I was doing. "I volunteer as tribute."