Prim

So this is what being dead feels like. Day by day, Dad and I go out to the forest and practice shooting. Then we come home and have a nice meal. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I barely had any time with him when he was alive.

Today, I drop by Mayor Undersee's house. His entire family is in there. I go to Madge's room, and I find her sitting on her bed, scribbling into a journal.

"Hey," she says, smiling at me.

"Are you writing?" I ask.

"Yeah. I always wanted to be an author, but my mother said I had to focus on more important things."

"What's it about?"

"A girl fighting for her life in a dangerous competition where only one person can survive." She grimaces, knowing how close to reality it is (or was) for us. How close I came to that fate. "I thought it was a story that needed to be told."

"Well, it does," an unknown voice says. That's when I notice another girl sitting by Madge. It nearly scares me to death, because she's been so quiet. The girl looks so much like Madge that I have to wonder if they're related.

Madge points to the mystery girl and says, "This is my aunt, Maysilee Donner."

"Aunt?" I ask. "But you look too young-"

"She died in the Games."

"Oh!" I exclaim, turning my eyes to Maysilee. "Sorry."

Maysilee just shrugs. "You didn't know. It was twenty five years ago. So… Madge told me you're Marigold Fawcett's- I mean, Everdeen's- daughter."

"You knew her?"

"Knew her? She was one of my best friends. Is she okay these days?"

I swallow hard. It's a pretty sensitive question for anyone in my family. "She lives with my sister," I manage to say. "They're getting by, I guess."

"Right," Maysilee replies softly. "I heard there's a rebellion going on. That must be how you died, isn't it?"

I nod, trying not to cry. "Mom and Katniss… they must be so sad, now that I'm gone."

"The Mari I knew was strong," she says. "Hopefully, she and your sister are leaning on each other-"

"But she fell off the deep end when my dad died," I argue. "She literally wouldn't speak for weeks. Katniss had to hunt every day to feed us. How can they possibly find any hope now?"

Then I think of Gale. I miss him already. I always wanted a brother, and he fit that role perfectly, bringing us food and making me laugh; he even let me cry into his shoulder when Katniss volunteered at the reaping.

"I know what you mean," Madge says, bringing my mind back to her room. "Life's hard enough without the Games. Add that in, and you've got a never-ending circle of hell. I keep wondering how I would feel if I'd been reaped."

"Scared out of your wits," I mutter.

I remember thinking that I'd just been stabbed in the heart, and my body had started shaking as I walked towards the Justice Building. Then, out of the blue:

"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute."

I'd seen how pale my sister's face was, as she realized that she'd just signed herself up to die. But I couldn't be angry at her. To have someone who would lay down her life for me... it was mind-boggling.

Madge jumps her to feet, and without warning, she throws her arms around me. "I didn't mean to dig up old bad memories, Prim. You were really brave that day."

"Well, you were brave when they started bombing us," I reply, hugging her in return. "I learned a lot from you. That you have to defend what's yours, no matter the cost. I won't lie, though; I was a mess when I found out you were dead."

"Aw. Don't say that." I hear her sniffle, like she's about to cry.

"It's true," I continue. "Why do the nicest people have to die? First my dad, then you and your whole family… nearly everyone in District 12… You didn't do anything wrong."

"Neither did you and I," Maysilee interjects, patting my back gently. Even though she never made it past sixteen, she seems as mature as my mom. I guess we're on the way to being friends here, then.

Madge looks at me for a moment and grimaces. "Nobody said life was fair. All I know is, I did what I could with the life I had, even if it was short. Katniss would want you to remember that."

"I'll try," I mumble, but my words quickly turn to sobs. She simply keeps hold of me, and Maysilee joins us.

For the first time, Katniss doesn't have to worry about me anymore. I'm in good hands.