What could have been..
I stand here, waiting. My mother is stood behind me, putting my long brown hair up in an elegant bun, the natural waves of my hair being flown up into twists. Two strands hang by my ears. I look beautiful. My brother Zack is stood there. He's clean, for once, in a crisp shirt and freshly ironed trousers. It's my third Reaping and my heart is racing. Zack took me hunting earlier, I got to test out my new bow. District 12 hasn't changed. Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire, is my Aunt. Her sister, Prim is my mother. People tell stories of when they were younger, when Katniss was in the 74th Hunger Games and won, along with my Uncle Peeta. Luckily, a rebellion never happened and we carried on normally.
My mother finishes pinning my hair and brushes lint off my shoulders. Then she grabs me and hugs me tightly. "I love you Renèe, don't forget that." I smile faintly and hug her tighter. My mum holds her arm out and Zack joins our hug. "I love you both and please, stay safe. If you do get picked, Katniss and Peeta will be there to help you as your mentors. Good luck. May the odds be ever in your favour." She kisses the top of our heads and we leave the house. I look around quickly before the door closes, it might be last time I see it.
We arrive in the square and Effie Trinket walks onto the stage, I see Katniss and Peeta on stage and the Mayor. Zack and I wave goodbye to mum and go up to the Peacekeepers sat at tables. "Hand." I pass it over and the Peacekeeper pricks my finger and places it onto a sheet of paper. She holds up a scanner and the name, Winters, Renèe appears. I swallow. She gestures me through and I give Zack a large hug. "Be careful. I love you." He replies saying he loves me too. I walk to where the fourteen year old girls stand and he stands with the sixteen year old boys. I take a deep breath and stand up straight. A girl points out that the back of my blouse in hanging out of my skirt and I remember what my mother used to tell me Katniss used to say to her, "Tuck your tail in, Little Duck" I smile and touch my pin. Its a Mockingjay and quite famous, my Aunt wore it in her Arena.
Effie Trinket walks up to the microphone. "Welcome, welcome, welcome, to the 99th Annual Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favour." Effie's getting on a bit. It's been 25 years since my Aunt's Games and Effie has tried to cover her age up with make-up and surgery, it's made her look a bit like a prune. "Now first, a message from your Mayor." And up to the microphone walks Gale Hawthorne, a family friend. He sees me and nods, a sombre look on his face. He says the boring speech said by all the Mayor's in all of the Reapings. He then sits. Effie stands back up and smiles. "Ladies first." My heart feels like its going to burst out of my chest because I'm so nervous. Effie reaches her hand into the bowl and pulls out a slip of paper. She walks back to the microphone, holding the slip aloft in her perfectly manicured nails. She reaches the microphone and opens it. "Well I never," She says. "If it isn't Renèe Winters." I stand there shocked, I feel like my heart is about to jump out of my throat. I start to head up to the stage and turn, I see my mother standing there, looking crestfallen and my brother with his mouth open in shock. I tuck my tail in, touch my pin and head up to the stage.
Effie is stood there with her hand extended. My Aunt and Uncle have stood up, along with Gale. I keep walking and reach the steps. I climb them and suddenly I'm being shown to the entire of District 12, almost as if the don't know who I am. And they all put three fingers to their lips and hold them out to me. I close my eyes, forcing back tears. No Renèe, don't show weakness, it's what they want. I stand there while Effie moves to the boys bowl. She plunges her hand in and a name is there. She trots back next to me and reads out. "Ash Weatherfield." 'Oh no,' I think. 'Ash.' I know Ash but he doesn't know me. He's a year older than me and one of the most popular boys in school. He's tall and has blond hair and blue eyes. Everyone loves Ash. He walks onto the stage and Effie asks for volunteers. I love how she didn't ask for them for me. Almost as if she knew there wouldn't be any. Ash waves her away. "No, I got picked, I'm the Tribute." Effie tells us to shake hands. We do. His hands are so warm. Then we are in the Justice building. I'm put in a plush room. I sit on a velvet couch and run my hand along one of the fluffy cushions. The door bangs open and there is my family. "Mum." I run and hug her. A tear falls from her eye. "No." I say. "Don't cry. Please." She nods and wipes it away. I hug Zack. "I wish I could have volunteered Renèe, but I couldn't I'm a boy and-" I silence him and nod. He knows I know. He also knows he can hunt and keep them safe. I'm not much of a contribution but I am good with a bow. We sit in a comfortable silence until a Peacekeeper comes in. I hug them both again and say, "I love you both." They start to reply but then that's it, they're gone.
Then Gale walks in with Madge and their children. I hug them. Madge smiles at my pin. "I remember when I gave that to your Aunt. I'm glad it's come to you." I smile and hug her again. Gale says he will help my mum and Zack with hunting for game. The first law he passed as mayor was that you can hunt for game in the woods. I thank him. Then they're gone and Effie's back with Ash. Then we're in a car. Now we're at a Train Station. Everything is happening so quickly. I take one last look at District 12 and then I'm pushed onto the train. It's beautiful. I thought our house was nice but this was full of crystal chandeliers and diamond doorknobs. We are set down in comfortable chairs and left alone.
Katniss and Peeta walk in. I hug them. They start throwing advice at us. I can barely take it all in. Then Ash yawns and we're whisked off to bed. I put on some soft pyjamas and climb under the duvet. I can't sleep. I start singing the song that is now so famous. Rue's Lullaby. I always sing this. If I can't sleep, I sing. People describe my voice as sweet and melodic, and I find that nice a lovely thing to say but now, I can't care less whether or not my voice sounds nice. This is my song:
Deep in the meadow, under the willow,
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow,
Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes,
And when again they open, the sun will rise.
Here it's safe, and here it's warm,
Here the daises guard you from every harm,
Here your dreams are sweet,
And tomorrow brings them true,
Here is the place, where I love you.
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away,
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray,
Forget your woes, and let your troubles lay,
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.
Here it's safe, and here it's warm,
Here the daises guard you from every harm,
Here your dreams are sweet,
And tomorrow brings them true,
Here is the place, where I love you.
I finish the song and fall silent. I now allow my tears to fall. But they won't come, so I fall asleep.
I wake in the morning and think I'm home. But then my eyes open and I feel the rumble of the train beneath me. I can remember. I climb out of bed and put my blouse and skirt back on. I look in the mirror and my hair is a little messy but looks okay. I enter the dining cart. Ash is sat there, talking to Peeta and Katniss is chatting to Effie. They all look when I enter. I sit next to Katniss and Ash and grab a cup of tea. I sip it and feel the warmth. "Ooh." They all stare at me and I blush. But then Ash bursts into laughter and he sets us all off. But then we stop because we remember why we are here. I put some pancakes on my plate and pour some maple syrup on top. I cut one up and eat it. Finally, I finish. But then Ash gasps, "There it is." Speeding into view is the Capitol pavilion. I run to the window and look in awe at the Capitol.
