Sometime, during the late hours of the night I finally reached my bedroom. I was finally away from all the colors, wigs, dyed eyebrows, genetically altered hibiscus flowers and found myself in my carefully planned sanctuary that no one had a say in.

It was mine and no one's views or opinions will ever be able to change a thing about it.

Once I walked in I carefully shut the white metallic door that blocked the rest of the Capitol out, and silently twisted the lock in place ensuring the utmost privacy. I routinely sauntered over to the bathroom door and pushed it open, flicking the light on before walking in and shutting that door behind me as well. I first washed the little makeup that I willed myself into putting on earlier this evening and watched as the neutral brown from my eye shadow mix in with the black of my eyeliner, mingling as it was whisked down the drain into oblivion. I reached over for the pastel pink face towel that hung beside the sink's mirror and brought it to my face, allowing it to soak the liquid used to cleanse my face.

Over the folded edge of the towel, my eyes caught onto their reflection in the mirror that hung effortlessly before me. Lowering the towel, I took in every feature of my face. My rosy, pink lips, my naturally occurring flushed cheeks, my gray eyes and dark brown hair that set me off instantly from my family.

I would be perfect if I just dyed my hair blond or some other extravagant color and had the surgery that would give me a lively green pigment to my steel gray eyes. Or that's what my mother and our family stylist says.

Every time, however, I refuse. Even if it makes me stand out from my blond hair, green eyed family. Even if it makes me seem boring in the light of the Capitol. There's nothing in this world that would make me change those things about myself, because it's those things that make me...

"Different." I whispered to the reflection of myself in the mirror.

At least in the sense that I haven't allowed the Capitol to change me physically - although I will acknowledge that I've given them a hard time to do so mentally too.

I toss the towel onto the counter of the sink and open the door, flicking the light back off as I walk back into my bedroom.

It was full of light, airy colors. Pastel pinks, oranges and yellows. Nothing was vibrant or had the ability to catch the eye at a glance, but instead everything was designed so that your eyes were at ease and weren't assaulted with every blink you unintentionally took.

I walked over to my dresser, stripping myself bare of the pastel green dress that I had dawned for the day and allowing it to pool at my feet before I stepped out of it and into a more comfortable outfit - a simple white oversize sweater. Pulling my arms through the sleeves, I walked over to my bed and finally plopped into it letting out a long overdue sigh.

Sinking into the pillows, I allow my eyes to slide shut as tried to follow the murky water of my makeup into oblivion.

A few hours have passed and I finally accept that oblivion does not welcome my presence. The past twenty or so minutes have been spent by me rolling from side to side, trying every angle to find my perfect sleeping position. All of which was to no avail.

Finally, letting out a frustrated grunt, I swung my legs over the edge of my pillow topped bed and planted my feet onto the cool, wooden floors beneath. I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a pair of shorts and slipped them on before unlocking my bedroom door and leaving my sanctuary.

I walked down the short hallway of my family's large apartment home, which sat just a few yards off the President's Mansion. "Privileges of the Elite," as my mother would say. In moments, I found myself in the large, extravagant and colorful living room of the apartment. The bright sea foam couch meshed perfectly with the electric purple rug, which only accentuated the pink curtains that hung before the range of windows that provided a view of the Capitol's center.

I walked passed the assortment of colors towards the front door. Slipping on a pair of plain flats, my right hand rose as it reached for the silver brushed door knob but halted once a noise behind me caught my attention. Looking over my shoulder, my steel eyes caught onto the brown one of our Avox, Aileta. My hand fell back to my side as I turned to face her completely, a pitied smile forming on my face.

In her fair hands she held one of my coats. Stretching her hands out she offered it to me. I took it without objection and replied with a quiet thank you as I quickly slipped it on. She gestured towards the door as her way of asking me if she should accompany me to wherever I was going.

I shook my head lightly, "I won't be long Aileta," I promised, "Just make sure mom doesn't find out that I'm gone, okay?"

After hesitating for just a moment, she flashes a smile back at me with a nod of understanding.

With another smile, I spun back on my heels facing the door and swung it open, quietly walking out into the night with a small wave to Aileta marking my departure.

The locking of the deadbolt traveled to my ears as I hopped down the steps, thankful that it was Aileta who halted my journey and not another member of the family.

With my hands in my pocket, I tuck my head into the collar of the polyester coat that Aileta handed me. Winter was coming, and now I wished I had put more thought into my outfit before escaping into the darkness of the Capitol at night.

With only the sound of my footsteps accompanying me, I continued my journey to no where. I wasn't going anywhere in particular, but for some reason, the Capitol at night was the best place for me to just breathe.

I tilted my head back and took in a deep breath of the crisp, cool air that surrounded me and slowly let it out through my mouth. I kept my head tilted up to the sky, gazing upon the millions and millions of stars that were gazing back at me at that moment.

With something as amazing as the skies above, the Academy teachers still only teach us of Calculus and the vigilante actions that our Previous Presidents (my great great grandfather, great grandmother and soon my father) have made with the well being of the Capitol and it's citizens in mind.

I scoff to myself quietly, free of any possibility of being reprimanded by my mother or carefully examined by my great grandmother.

I paused for a moment and finally brought my gaze back to what was before me. I now found myself standing before the President's greenhouse which sat in the border of the President's residential area and the rest of the Capitol.

Lacking interest, I walked passed it briskly, being sure to shield my face from whatever camera hid itself in my surrounding, although I'm sure whoever's watching has already taken note of a strange girl walking around aimlessly at somewhere near four in the morning.

I continue this aimless walking about until my body begins to scream about how cold it was, and how heavy my eyes were from a lack of sleep. I finally decide to turn back as the sun barely began to hit the horizon, meaning it was around six in the morning.

Pausing for just a moment to take in my surroundings, I finally noticed that I was somewhere in the wildlife area of the Capitol, a new feature that they created in just the passed couple of months. Despite most if not all the living things that inhabited this plot of land being formed in a laboratory, it truly was beautiful. Nothing like the Capitol's definition of beautiful with obnoxious vibrant colors but instead with those of nature - the greens, browns and faint blues.

It was truly beautiful.

I allowed my eyes to slid shut, taking in the chirps and calls of the jabber jays that flew in the air above me.

Finally being accepted into oblivion and forced my eyes open, darting around the peaceful landscape that surrounded me. As I slowly and peacefully scanned the artificial meadow, my eyes easily caught onto those of another human, almost completely hidden by the grasses that grew freely in the contained field. They were a pale brown, lacking complete luster and shine. They captivated mine effortlessly.

My eyes widened slightly, then blinked a few times. They were still there, watching me closely. Still and silent, I stood there waiting to see the eyes disappear or for a small animal to jump out from it's spot and scurry away.

But nothing jumps out.

I take in a deep breath and allow my eyes to shut slowly, and remain that way for just a few moments. Opening them, it's not to my surprise that nothing was there anymore, not a single trace of whatever it was that was gazing back at me - if anything was even there.

I shook my head lightly before finally turning on my heel back towards the way I assumed I came from. Although I find it hard to believe, I tell myself that it was just my imagination playing tricks on me due to my lack of sleep. I keep telling myself that until I believe it.

So I do.

Finally reaching the main roadway and sidewalk, I hurried back home, sure that I would once again be scolded by my mother for not being normal. Luckily however, the only face I meet when walk through the door is that of our now worried Avox. A small smile once again formed on my lips.

"Aileta, have you been up all this time?" I ask her, my drowsiness coming through my voice.

She shyly shook her head as she stepped towards me and took my jacket from off my shoulders. Putting it onto the coat rack, she gestures for me to hurry back to my room by pointing down the hallway and at the clock that read "6:47."

I give her a nod and a wider, more genuine smile before hurrying off to my bedroom, opening the door and shutting it behind me.

Slipping off the flats, I once again fell into my bed this time more inclined to fall into the world of sleep.

I tell myself that I needed to rest for whatever I may be forced to deal with today, and I repeat it until just a bit of consciousnesses remains.

"Go to sleep," I mumbled to myself, drawing the pillow closer.

So I do, and for the first time in the a long time I actually slept like a baby.