Scary, but Yours.

I look through the crowd at the 74th Hunger Games reaping ceremony. Katniss told me before the reaping that most likely, I won't be picked for the games, but I'm not sure. I have faith in her, but I still doubt that I will not be picked.

I will not be able to survive the games. I am super skinny, 13 years old, and pale skinned. I have rosy cheeks, light blond hair that hangs down my back, and a small, shy smile. A person not even twice my size could kill me in an instant.

The only thing I'm capable of is healing. My mother taught me everything I know since she is one. Whenever someone would come to our home for help healing a family member or a friend, we would get right to work. I loved helping out because it made me feel happy that I could heal someone. We didn't always heal everyone, but it was fun trying.

Before the reaping, I look around to see Katniss in the 16-year-old group. She mouths a little "quack" at me and smiles. I think back at how she basically took care of me when my father died in a coal mining explosion. I was really young, but I still remember the conversations my mother and Katniss had.

"MOM! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME! MOM PLEAAASE!" Katniss would yell at her.

"I'm alright Katniss, I'm fine. Now go on and get ready for dinner."

Katniss stared at her for a second before she got up and went to get ready for dinner.

My mother came and picked me up, tickled me, and whispered "I love you" in my ear before she put me down, picked up a bag, and walked out the front door. I didn't know what was going on, but when Katniss came back into the room and saw that mother was gone she knew something bad was happening.

My mother left us alone.

She came back 2 weeks later, and ever since then Katniss never trusted my mother again. Katniss was the one that went out to hunt for food to trade and bring home for us to eat. She made sure our family was well even though that was my mother's job.

I find my mother in the crowd, and spot her in the back with the parents with a horrified look on her face. It would kill her if one of us was chosen to be in the Games.

As the reaping gets started, Effie Trinket, a perky, weirdly dressed woman comes onto the stage.

"Happy 74th Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor," she says with a high pitched voice.

Yeah right, I think.

"Now, ladies first!"

I wait in fear for her to call the name on that tiny slip of paper.

"Ahem," she clears her throat. "Primrose Everdeen!"

I cower in fear, but swallow it and slowly make my way to the stage, watching the eyes that watch me as I walk.

"NOOOOOO!" I hear coming from the crowd, and then I see Katniss running through her group. "No! Please, I volunteer as tribute!"

I think about the consequences with Katniss leaving for the games. My mother and I will starve if Katniss was gone. The last time someone left, my dad, my mom disappeared for days and Katniss had to take care of us. She provided food for us, and was basically more of a mom to me than my mom actually is.

I have to do this. They would be better off without me.

"NO KATNISS!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "NO! Let me do this. PLEASE." I plead with her to let me go. She doesn't understand, but I do.

I see Gale, Katniss's best friend coming from behind her and pulling her away from my grasp.

"Go one little Rose, you go one up there," Gale says to me. I hug him before I slowly start to make my way up the stage.

"Well, that was VERY interesting! However, we must keep the show going on! Come, come honey." Effie screeches from behind me.

As I walk up to the stage, I can literally feel every eye on me.

Once I look around again, I see my mother falling to the floor, crying in hysterics.

Mom, it's okay. I'm going to be fine.

"Now for the boys!" complete silence. I hope that it's not Gale.

Please don't be Gale. Katniss would not live.

"Ahem.."

"Peeta Mellark!" I gasp silently. Peeta, I saw him every day at school; Katniss and I walked passed his staring eyes after school was over.

As he walks up to the stage, we meet eyes, but then quickly look away. Katniss told me about him once. He was the one that gave us the bread when I was little.

Peeta was a strong boy, with muscles pointing out of his shirt. He had bright blue eyes, almost like mine, and golden blond hair and eyebrows. He seemed like the silent type, but I wasn't sure. He had big hands and was maybe twice my size. He worked at the bakery with his mother, father, and brothers. Whenever I would pass by, I would see him through the window where all the yummy looking cakes and pies were displayed. His father seemed like a gentle soul, while his mother seemed like an evil and horrible person. Then I look at his size.

Example number one. All he would have to do is pick me up and throw me and I'm a goner.

"Shake hands, you two!" We shake hands. My small, fragile hand locks perfectly into his big, firm hands. "WELL! This is going to be the best games yet, I'm sure."

Hah, I bet everyone is going to love seeing me being slaughtered by even the tiniest tribute. I giggle at the remark I made in my head, but quickly stop before anyone hears me.

"Well, thank you all for such the most EXCITING reaping yet!" Effie says with a huge smile on her face.

Effie pushes us off to the back of the stage, literally, and walks us both to separate rooms. Mine is small with comfortable furniture; none like I've ever had before.

"Wait here, darling," Effie says in her Capitol high-pitched voice.

I waited about five minutes before my mother, Katniss, and Gale burst through the door, and I'm mushed between all three.

"Try to win!"

"Run fast."

"Find the weapon you're most suited with."

"Guys, guys! I'll be fine. Please, just let me go because I can't breathe!" They finally let me go, and I comfort them and tell them I'll be fine.

"Mom, it's okay. You don't have to cry and be sad. I will be fine," I reassure her, even though I know that I won't.

Katniss just looks at me and cries.

"You're my baby sister. I don't want you to go! I have to go for you. It's my responsibility to keep you safe and I need to do that!" Katniss cries out.

"Katniss, no. You've kept me safe and protected me all my life, and now it's time for me to do the same for you! I have to, you deserve it," I say, trying to hold back the tears that eventually come pouring out.

"You can do it little Rose," Gale says. "I know you can. A lot of people, and even you, might not think you can, but I think you've got it down inside of you. Something needs to just bring it all out."

We all cry and hug in silence before guards come in and rip them away.

"I love you guys!" is the last thing I get to say before the doors slam and I'm left alone.

Then Effie is back and is escorting us to the train.

I look out the window as my life, friends, and family are all taken away from me in just one hour.

It's time to leave them all behind.