My hands shake as Effie pulls out the tiny slip of paper. I break into a small sweat. What am I worried about? My name is only in there once. My name is only in there once... Effie unfolds the paper. "Primrose Everdeen!" she announces. But it can't be. I heard wrong. That's MY name. It was only in there once. Everyone around me shifts and makes a path from me to the stage. But no, it can't be me, it isn't me! I look around but everyone is silent. I look over to Katniss, who stands silently, staring at the ground. "Come on, dear, it's okay!" Effie tells me. But it's not okay. This isn't happening! Still, I walk to the stage, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. But I don't wake up. This is real. I hear the boys name being called. Peeta Mellark, the baker's boy. And then I hear a scream. "I volunteer!" the raspy voice calls. I soon realize its Katniss' voice. But she can't volunteer for Peeta- "I volunteer! I volunteer for Prim!" she says. Oh. I might have a chance. Katniss is strong. She can win, I know she will. "I'm sorry, dear," Effie says. What? "It's too late now."
I stand in my cold, stale room in the Justice Building. I am aloud visitors for one hour before I am shipped to the Capitol for a week before the arena. I wait for someone to arrive. After an eternity of about 5 minutes, the door opens. Katniss, her hair braided nicely, walks in with dried tears on her face. She never cries. Not even when mom went into total depression did Katniss cry. "I'm so sorry, Prim, I was too late... I was too late..." she says slowly and quietly. "Katniss-" I shake my head. "I tried, but it was too late. I couldn't save you. And I'm sorry." She turns to leave, because she can't handle it. I can't handle it. Her goodbye hangs in the air as the door clicks shut. I sink onto the couch and place my head in my hands. The next to come in are the Hawthornes. Gale, Rory, Vick, Posy and Hazel. All five are here. Rory gives me a hug, while Posy hugs my legs. Hazel smiles sadly at me. Vick stands around awkwardly the while time. And Gale... He looks like he's about to cry, too. "Hazel? Can I have a minute alone with Gale please?" I ask. I need to settle something. She nods and leads the kids out. Rory gives me one last squeeze before following. "Gale," I try to say in a firm voice. "You need to take care of her. Please." He looks off into the distance, and I'm not sure i he knows how important this is. "She needs to be fed. She won't be able to do it herself. Promise me, Gale." I hesitate before adding the last part in. "It's my dying wish."