My father is a great man. He's always been a great man, even before he became the stylist for District 12. I wanted him home with us, but he was in the Capitol. It's okay though, because he's here with me now right? Here with us. Here where he belongs.
I wake up to soft sheet and a plush bed. "Am I really waking up? Or is this another dream?" I keep thinking to myself as I feel around the bed. I feel her breathing steadily beside me.
"Good morning, darling." she says as my fingers touch her. "How was your sleep?"
Where are we, who am I now, what is this?I start with the basics.
"What time is it?" I ask.
"A little past six." she yawns.
"In the evening?" shock omitting my tone.
"Morning. Hence the good morning sweetie" she smiles.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Next Question.
"Where are we?" I start. "Where's dad? Where's-"
"Shhh," she whispers and I feel like we're in danger "worrying does the heart bad." and she meets my hands with hers and gives it a squeeze.
Melting, enchanted in her words. I am melting. She is love. My mother, this woman, is love. It's been like this ever since she was born I can suspect. Even back home, in District 11, she was this woman. Nothing could've changed my perspective of her now. Now we're here, in the place we hate the most, and I love her and she loves me and that's all that matters. That and-
"Good morning" he says.
He's here, we're here, and we're a family again. My arms reach out in an attempt to search for him, but he's already here. I love him, too. A kiss reaches my forehead and we all just sit there for a while intertwined with each other's presence.
"Mai" he starts. "We need to talk."
"Now?" she sounds like a ghost.
He shakes his head yes and they get up. Walking to the door, will they look back? Will they come back? I close my eyes shut and squeeze them until the light can't come through anymore. I see it, District 11. I am small, I am young again. My mom and dad are arguing over something and I cover my eyes and ears with my sheets and I try not to hear them, but I do.
"We could be killed!" he screamed "What about our daughter, Mai?"
"Do you want her to live like this, Cinna? Live how we've lived? I've spent my whole life loving her and loving you and hating the Capitol, we need to sta-" silence. I can tell he's hugging her because her cries become muffled
"I'm sorry, I was being so selfish." and he'd just reply "Soon my love, soon we will be free."
That was 12 years ago. Today, the conversation takes turns for the worst.
"It's starting now" he says to her
"Now? Why now?" she asks, worry and joy filling her tone
"The tribute girl form District 12, she's special. I can feel it. She's the one we've been waiting so long for…" his voice trails off.
"What about-" she pauses. I can feel her looking at me, her eyes piercing through the door staring at me.
"I've got somewhere she can go, somewhere she'll be safe." he says. Once again I hear muffled cries. Those cries are of relief though, of happiness, of hope.
She. They mean me. What are they going to do? Why can't I go with them? Breathe in. Breathe out. They're going to leave me. In. It's for the best. Out. I can't stop the tears. They're flowing and they're not stopping anytime soon. They enter the room and see me, red eyed and hyperventilating. I remember them rushing to my side trying to calm me down, then it all goes blank.