I hate Reaping Day. On one side, it gets us a day off of working, but forces two of our neighbors to kill or be killed. My mom says not to talk badly about the Games, but I can't help but think about it. They're horrible. I'm glad I have the freedom to a journal. I can't imagine what the Captiol would do to me and my family if they found this journal. The Capitol only expects things from us districts. When did they help us last? They only worry about their hair and how to intensify a game that no one wants to take part in. Farming is fun I guess. Being around animals calms me. Besides when I'm working, Elena helps me alot.

She's my best friend. Elena and I went together to the square on Reaping Day and stood holding hands, praying it wouldn't be either of us. District 10 is normally a warm and breezy place, but that day, the wind seemed to rip through my hair and make every nerve in my body explode. I felt like I would explode. Elena must have noticed, because she squeezed my hand. She was always so calm and care-free about everything. Everything but the Games. I looked at her and her eyes appeared to be frozen and her lip slightly shook in the breeze. It was a side of her I had never seen. I was scared of that side, because I knew it must have been a bad situation to make her worried. When the Mayor stepped onto the platform, everyone's conversations ceased and their eyes became attatched to the glass bowl containing exactly 968 slips of paper, each expressing the name of the unfortunate teenager.

Mayor Piers began to speak very slowly, which made it aware he knew what we were all thinking and dreading. He welcomed us all, although I didn't think it was an event one would be glad to be attending, and approached the glass bowl. He pulled out a slip that was crinkled and torn on the edges. He smoothed it between his hands and took a deep breath. With a crack in his voice, he read the slip. I couldn't fathom what occured until I was in the hall running towards Elena begging her not to go. She never cried, and we didn't hug much. But for that moment, we stood holding eachother as if we were the only two humans in existance. She didn't say anything, nor did I. There was nothing to say. I couldn't accept it. My best friend, 14, beautiful, and the kindest person I've met, was going into the arena. My hands were trembling beyond control as we released eachother from our embrace. The officers then came in and pulled her away before I could say what I needed to the most, 'I love you'. That is my biggest regret.