Your Guardian Angel

I stared in the side mirror as Seneca shrunk and eventually went out of sight. He looked defeated, slumping away at the last moment with his hands in his pocket. Goodbye, Seneca. I wish you the best.

"You know he really care about you," Venia spoke, never removing her eyes from the road.

"Yes. I hope that he finds no trouble on my behalf. Hopefully, he will be safe," I answered.

Venia looked tired. Under the passing floodlights, her eyes shone with a glimmer of someone who had not slept for hours. Instantly, looking at her made me feel worse. Of course, my antics had not only kept her awake, but they had kept her from spending quality time with her brother.

"I am sorry for any trouble that I am putting you through," I began, "You know that you need not take me in."

"Oh, come on. We both know that Seneca would never forgive me if I let you get away. Besides, you have grown on me," she smiled and touched my hand.

"Thank you. I will do everything to help you out," I offered.

"Right now, try to get some rest. It is quite a long ride to my residence," she stated.

I took her word for it. Falling asleep proved easier than I had originally believed. Within moments, I laid restlessly against the warm upholstery.

Venia shook me awake some time later. It was still pitch black outside, but I could see a beautiful pink house delicately silhouetted by spotlights. The lawn looked inviting with eloquent bushes handsomely trimmed. Venia led the way into the house.

"This is beautiful," I breathed as Venia turned on the light.

"It is modest," she corrected, "I work as an architect. I actually designed this."

She led me around the room briefly, and then led me up the round stairs. I was not used to a home with such few provisions. There was not a flat screen television, no stone fireplace, and I could not spot a statue to save my life. Modest was the new mediocre, obviously.

Venia opened a door that led to a small bedroom. A decent sized bed waited in the middle of the room, a light pink canopy hung down. She handed me a toothbrush, pointed out the bathroom, and told me where to find her if needed.

"I am right down the hall. Holler if you need something," she called as she left.

I inspected the room vigorously. There were a few decent outfits sitting in a bureau, but nothing left me breathless. She did not seem to inherit Seneca's good fortune, but at least I had a place to stay. I picked out a pink outfit that seemed warm and crossed to the bathroom.

My reflection disgusted me. Bits and pieces of debris had settled in my hair from the explosion. My eyes had large bags around them. I washed off all the dirt and ended with something resembling human life.

I went back into my bedroom and sat on the end, looking out the window. I had to dig my nails into my arms to keep from crying out. Everything had gone wrong. Seneca, Alfie, and mother had all been taken from me. The loss was too much to bear.

My face hit the pillow, my screams echoed around the room. I clenched my fists, grabbing the comforter with fury. I felt as caged as an animal. I had never felt this much despair. Capitol life was easy, simple really. You grew up with relative ease, transformed into a wondrous Capitol citizen, and died with pride. You did not lose your family out of the spite of a father that had clearly lost his mind and driven his loved ones away.

"Effie?" Venia had returned.

"Oh, Venia. I am sorry for waking you," I rubbed my eyes and faced her.

"May I sit?" she gestured toward the bed.

"Of course," I moved over and let Venia sit.

We sat together in silence. She seemed as if to wait for me to make the first move. However, I had not the faintest clue of what to say or do.

"I just do not understand," I finally broke the ice, "What did I do to deserve this?"

"You did not do anything, Effie. Nothing that happened was your fault," she responded.

"If only that were true. However, my actions were the catalyst in what was to come. I stole that credit card. I never steal things," I explained.

"So you had a weak moment. My guess is that you wanted to impress someone. You felt pressured to fit in, a desire to have a good time. There is nothing wrong with that," she answered back.

I considered her words carefully, but only found more questions.

"Why do I feel so inhuman? Like a monster on a rage, I have completely acted out. I forced my brother into sneaking out of the house with me. I fought a former classmate and have caused harm to innocent people. All of these solely lie on me. I even came to Seneca's house, drunk and dangerous."

"There is nothing inhuman about you," she wrapped an arm around me protectively.

I laid my head on her shoulder, letting both her arms and words comfort me.

"Being human means being venerable. It means that you experience both joy and pain, like those poor children in the Hunger Games. They do not deserve the awful fatality that inevitably awaits them. Why do we slaughter them? The innocent? Because the world is not a fair place. Bad things happen to good people, it does not mean that you did anything wrong. You are human, you have made mistakes, but the whole situation is not your fault."

"I just feel as though I cannot win. There is no way that I can come back from this. What's to become of me? I have no family, no brother, and no lover. What am I to do?" I cried out.

The pain vocalized had a frenzying effect. I convulsed slightly, causing Venia to hold me closer.

"You will work through it. Just like I did. Seneca, too. We worked past our abandonment. Our parents lost interest in us, leaving us alone when Seneca was just a little boy. We worked hard; Seneca had two jobs by fourteen. I helped him through his hard spots and look where he is now. He has made quite a name for himself, even when he thought himself too worthless. It goes to show that a bit of hard work goes a long way."

Seneca, abandoned? That would explain his lack of family photos. He always seemed so reserved when I would bring the subject up. Venia must have raised him. That would explain his manners, his kindness.

"You are so brave," I whispered to her, "You did a fine job with Seneca."

"Yes," I could feel her smile, "He has turned into quite a respectable young man. And, he has impressed me further by winning the heart of a beautiful girl. I believe in you, Effie. You have so much potential."

"You think?" I asked.

"I know. And I am determined to help you. I will put you through upper school myself. Then, with the help of Seneca, we can get you into Games school. Together, Effie, we can do it. I will be here for you every step of the way. I will not abandon you."

It was everything I could do not to lose control. I let her words carry me up into a cloud of hope. Venia had previously shown the depths of her kindness, and I did not doubt her now. For a moment, my future, my goals, my dreams, all came within reach.

"Do not worry," she held me tighter, "Think of me as an older sister figure. Think of me as a best friend. Think of me as a sister-in-law. You can always confide in me."

"Thank you so much."

We sat there for hours, looking outside into the moonlight. I soaked up moonbeams, allowing the lunar power to radiate inside me. I fell asleep in Venia's arms. The arms of my guardian angel.