So Panem, at long last, is finally at peace. President Snow has met his maker (who likely will not be too forgiving). Coin is dead, as well, thanks to the Mockingjay. The Victors, thank goodness, have scrapped their plan to hold one more Hunger Games using Capitol children. Many on both sides are dead, but what's the use of continuing to fuel the cycle of revenge and hatred? The Hunger Games belong in the past, and it can't be too soon, if you ask me. We fought this battle because we believe that killing children for sport is barbaric. But we can't celebrate by turning into barbarians ourselves. That's not right.
Yesterday, I said goodbye to Katniss. As I leaned in to embrace her, I whispered something in her ear. We've had plenty of little disagreements along the way, and there has been much I've said that has gone in one ear and out the other without ever making direct contact with the brain, but this time, I knew she heard me. I told her to go find something. Something very, very important. The life of a victor.
What's more, I knew she understood. Of course, it won't be easy. Not for her, nor for any of us. We all have nights where sleep is impossible, or ones where we wake from nightmares, wet enough to soak the sheets, but dread going back because of what terrors might await. Of course, it's far worse for Victors like Katniss and Peeta, who bear the additional trauma of having fought in the Games. But we all have lost loved ones in this war; all had moments where dying seemed preferable to struggling through another day. We've all suffered, and it is past time for the healing to begin.
Now that it's over, you might wonder what I'm going to do next. Right now, I'm not too sure, but I'm sure it will come to me in time. But maybe you are wondering how I wound up here in the first place. How did I, Effie Trinket, become involved in a real, honest-to-goodness revolution?
To understand, we will have to go back to the beginning...a month before the first Reaping.
And do bear with me, if I seem to go slowly at times, for it's quite a tale.
But rest assured, every word is true.