It's amazing how much of your memory can stay with you if they're about someone you love. Good memories or bad, it goes both ways.
It all started the day my father sent me to District Two when I was six. My mother just died in an accident, an accident that I was in. My father used to always tell me that the accident was my fault. And sadly, I believed him. Although a lot of people tell me that I was lucky to have survived, sometimes I wish I was like my mother, dead.
My main injury was my head and my hip. Thankfully, my hip was quick to heal, but it was the exact opposite with my head. I used to lose my memory two days, then eventually it got better. I guess it's true then, that time heals all wounds. Now I only lose my memory every now and then, but it's still hard.
My father sent me to District 2 because he said he couldn't stand to be in the same house as the person who killed the love of his life. I used to believe him, but Cato said that it was just because I reminded him too much of her. At first I didn't believe him because she was beautiful, and I was just an unwanted six year-old. I still don't believe him, but somehow, I see some resemblance. We have the same eye, hair and skin color, but it all stops there. She was very thin, whereas I have more muscle. She was always clean and proper, whereas I was always messy and had close to no manners at all.
When I first arrived in District 2, I was instructed to go to the hospital. I followed, hoping to not be such a burden. It was already hard for everybody, losing someone they loved, my mother. She was very thoughtful and kind, visiting each District every month to see how they were doing, but she was also very oblivious. She didn't know what was happening, how much they were suffering.
"Hi, I'm Cato", I heard someone say, interrupting me from my thoughts. I looked around, not seeing anyone. "Over here", I heard it talking again, it's voice barely audible. I saw something move around behind me, and when I looked, I realized it was someone, not something.
When I turned around, I saw a little boy with eyes as blue as the sky. They looked a little bloodshot, like he had been crying. A lot. In fact, his eyes were just a few shades lighter than the blood on his arm. He was taller than me, and looked just a little bit older too. He was only about seven or six, but he looked really strong. "Oh, hi", I said in reply, a little shy.
He let out a little laugh, which was weird because I thought he was sad. "This is usually the time when you tell me your name", he said.
"Oh, my name's Olivia", I said, a little embarrassed that I forgot to say it in the first place. "I like your name" Cato said, turning a bit red. Although, I'm not sure if he was blushing or if his cheeks were already red because of his crying. "What happened to you?" I ask, quickly changing the subject.
"Uh, I was–" He began, but was pulled away by someone much taller than him, who I think was his father. "Don't talk to her. You don't know her, Cato", the man said. Then, he turned to me and said, "I'm sorry if my son bothered you, Ms. Snow."
"Olivia!"
It was the first thing I heard that morning. It sounded like it was coming from the hall outside my hospital room, where they had me sleep in until they could find me a temporary family, and a place to live in.
I don't know whose voice it was, though I'm also not sure if it's because of my memory or because it's someone who I don't know. Nevertheless, I decide to follow it. I get up, walk out and as I'm turning to walk to the stairs, I see a girl in a bright yellow suit, purple heels and rainbow-colored hair. Must be a Capitol citizen. She waves at me with such delight in her face that it makes me want to barf. I walk over to her and I see that she has a lot of makeup on. In fact, so much makeup that it almost scares me to death.
"Olivia!" She smiles at me, with her icy-blue teeth. Disgusting.
"Hi! My name's Cynthia." She smiles again, but this time she lets out a big laugh. "Well, c'mon! Get dressed! We have to go for your morning walk."
I don't reply.
"Well, they said this was going to happen. Why don't you talk to anyone? It's terribly rude, if I have to be honest. We have to work on your manners. And your posture. And your organization. Wow, we better get started, shouldn't we? I have a list of all the things you must accomplish today. 7:30 - morning walk. 8:30 - shower. 9:00 - breakfast. 9:30 - study hall. 10:30 - music cla-"
"Um, okay. Just tell me what I have to do when I have to do it. Okay?" I say, cutting her off.
"Oh…" She pauses. "Alright!" I must have startled her or upset her, because she took a while to start smiling again. "Let's go!"
Thankfully, we walk in silence for a few minutes, but then she starts talking again. "So, even if it is rude interrupting people," She says, clearly referring to how I cut her off earlier. "It's good that you're talking again! Now, we are going outside to get some fresh air. I have a quick question. Would you like to have a shower before your morning walks or would you rather walk then shower? Because either way is good. I just want what you want! From now on, I'm your new best friend."
Pfft. Fat chance.
After lunch, I had free time, so I went back to my room and decided to take a nap.
"Olivia…." I heard someone say. It sounded like my father's voice. I tried to follow the voice, but I was strapped into my bed. I looked up at the ceiling, only there wasn't one. I could only see the blue sky, quickly turning into sunset, then night. I saw the stars, moving around. I thought it was normal for the stars to move around, but it looked like it was forming something. It was forming a face. I've seen this face before. Those blue eyes, blond hair, tall nose and missing teeth. It's the boy from yesterday. Cato. I tried to reach up, but I couldn't. I was being held down by something that smelled like roses. Daddy. Dad. Father. President Snow. I don't know what to call him. I can't call him Dad, because he doesn't treat me like his daughter. It's a good thing I won't be seeing him for a while though.
"Olivia." I heard it again. It was closer now, probably just a few feet away. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It shook me, and then I woke up.
I was right. It was Cato. "Hi," I manage to say. "What are you doing here?" I add.
"Nothing," he says. "The doctors wanted me to come here."
"Why?"
"They told me yesterday that I'm the first person you've spoken to in the past two months."
I don't say anything.
"Why? Why don't you talk to anyone?
Silence.
"So now you're not gonna talk to me?"
"I'm sorry," I finally say.
"Why are you sorry?" He says. "You didn't do anything to me."
I just smile. "So why are you here? The doctors didn't tell you that you should come, did they?"
"Oh, I wanted to see how you were doing," He smiles. "I asked my dad if we could be the ones to volunteer to be your temporary family."
"What did he say?"
"He said that they'll never let that happen," He says. "Because we're not that important. Not like the mayor."
"Then what did you say?"
"I didn't say anything."
"Oh."
"Oh, that's not what I meant!" He quickly adds. "I just meant that I didn't say anything to him after that. When they asked for someone to be your temporary family, I raised my hand. They only allowed for you to live with us because I'm the first person you've talked to in two months."
"That's great," I say, before adding, "Wait, I'm gonna live with you?"
"Yup," He smiles. "I came to pick you up. Do you have all your stuff?"
"Yeah," I smile back. He helps me get out of the tall hospital bed, since I'm short and he's a lot taller than me, despite being only a little older than me.
We walk out of the room, hand in hand. Even if I've only known him for little while, I'm happy that I'm gonna go live with him. And it's been a while since I've been happy.