"Vivian Markson." Suddenly the weight of the world all seemed to thrust itself down on my unwilling shoulders. My lungs were slowly closing, my breathing staggered. My heart was beating so hard and loud I thought the Capitol itself could hear it. Without much time passing, I found myself being led up to the stage by peacekeepers. In the back of my mind I registered the sound of my sister's voice screaming out for me, I couldn't do anything. I was going into the games. I was going to die.

"Come on up, dear." My heart thumped repeatedly and my breath hitched in the back of my throat. Magnolia ushered me next to the microphone and spoke into it, "Ladies and Gentlemen! Your first tribute for the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Ms. Vivan Markson!" She took my hand and threw it up high in the air waiting for the applause; it never came. All the people I grew up with, my neighbors, everyone from District 4 looked up at me with sympathy. The girls with relief, the boys still nervous.

I saw Berabell and Jorgina looking up at me with sad eyes, knowing they may never see me again. I searched the square for Bruceton and finally found him with the other 18 year olds ringing his hands together anxiously. He rose one finger and tapped his nose; a signal we came up with to show that it would be okay. We came up with it when we were 12 and 14 in school. If we were nervous or scared, and we were separated during school, we would just use the signal and feel better. Magnolia coughed, probably to cover up the awkward silence, and continued, "Well! Next for the boys!" She walked over to the bowl filled with some unfortunate boy's signed fate. She dipped her hand in and mixed around until she pulled out one single piece of paper. My heart was beating faster even now, praying it wasn't Ryker or Bruceton, hoping it wasn't a young kid, wishing the games didn't exist. Magnolia slowly unravelled the slip, the anticipation evident on all of District Fours faces.

"Landon Creener." I looked in the row of 16 year old boys searing for a boy I had known my whole life. Well, maybe 'know' isn't the best way to put it. I know who he is. He's been in my class every year, and I see him around; but I don't really know anything about him. I know he lives along. I know he has no family. I know how bad I felt for him. And now I know how much worse I feel. A crowd dispersed, leaving an empty circle with a terrified, lonely Landon standing in the middle. His face was ash white and you could tell he was trembling. He quickly recovered and tried to walk up to the stage with a strong, confident stance. He had no one to cry for him, no one to watch him with pride or to be scared. This made me think of my family. Which reminded me that in the moments I took to walk up to the stage, I had forgotten about them. I took a quick glance to where Rosalinda was standing with the other 12 year olds. Tears were streaming down her face and she wasn't even trying to be strong. She knew which dark fate most likely awaited me in The Hunger Games.

Finally, my eyes rested on my mother. Ever emotion was visible on her face. The hurt, suffering, and the slight hope that I would come home. The chances were highly unlikely, but I would try my hardest. I gave her a very small smile and one tear dripped down her face. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She broke down in tears, sobbing and fell to her knees. I looked away from her before my strong hold on my emotions broke free. I took one quick glance and saw Ryker was picking her up off the ground and rubbing her back. He looked up at me and I couldn't help think how much he reminded me of my father. He was so strong, taking care of the family, and always being the base that keeps us all together. Almost all of us. A knowing look passed through us. He knew to keep mom and Rosalinda safe and to make sure they had food to eat. And I knew I had to fight my hardest to come home to them or else it would be like dad all over again. I don't think my mom would ever recover.

As Landon made it to the stage, Magnolia spoke into the microphone, "Ladies and Gentlemen! Please give us a hand for your tributes in the 74th Hunger Games! She turned to us and commanded, "Now you two, shake hands!" I put my hand in Landon's and felt a warm, soothing feeling shoot through my veins. It was something I had never felt before. I know one thing for that moment, I felt safe.

Landon's eyes darted up toward mine and we both just stared at one another. Unfortunately, it wasn't long enough for me to get a reading on how he was feeling. I imagine it must have been quite similar to how I was taking it all in. Then, in an instant, his hand was torn from mine and we were being removed from the town square. I had completely missed the rest of Magnolia's speech and a peacekeeper had a death grip on my arm and was pulling me to the Justice Building. This was it. I was saying goodbye to my family. Maybe forever.