Panem. For Katniss, a wonderland, a paradise, everything anyone could ever want and more...but for me, it was death, it was sorrow, and lost hopes. Ever since the Hunger Games last year, everyone' s been happier, but I know it's only temporary. Once the next Hunger Games come around, everyone will be back to their lives of poverty and disappointment. I think we all know the Capitol is just playing with us, luring us in, cheating us, but no one is willing to admit it. I believe that deep down, a few capitol members have some goodness in their heart, but I KNOW that none of them have enough courage to act on it, or even speak on it. The Capitol has us all in a trap, one that we can't escape.
It all started about a week before last year's Games. Our district was already poor, but with the stupid Games coming up, the Capitol spared even less money for us. Poor, dirty, helpless district 12 inhabitants we were, and nothing was going to be done about it. That we knew of anyway. Like usual, the rich, stuck-up Capitol reporters came in and filmed the death sentence-I mean, "drawing" of the lucky contestants in the Games. The first name drawn was, OH! What do you know? Katniss' bratty little sister! Not one second after Effie Trinket calls out "Primrose Everdeen!" does Katniss charge on stage saying "Oh! Oh! I'll be the district 12 tribute! Please! Oh please! I hate my perfect life and my stupid family! Let me go instead!" (Okay, maybe I paraphrased a little, but who cares?) Anyway, everyone is shocked, blah blah blah, and then they call out the male tribute...it's Peeta Mellark. I honestly have to say, I died, right then and there. I've had a crush on Peeta since we were both young children running around his parents' bakery, throwing flour at each other. I knew we were destined to be together. Until then. This ruined all the plans I've ever made. Marry Peeta, open a bakery together, have 7 children. All of them, impossible. Now, you may be wondering why I'd lost all faith in him. Let's just say he isn't exactly the toughest guy around, but his eyes, they're like sapphires. Bright, innocent, and honest. Just like him...but now he has Katniss to look out for. Katniss to protect. Katniss to defend. This sounds really bad, but why couldn't the odds have been ever in my favor?