Acadia Marlow, District 7 Mentor, 17
"Happy birthday to you!" my family sang. I halfheartedly blew out the candles, and everyone gathered around the table clapped. My mother wrapped her arms around me tightly. I squeezed back, knowing that was what she wanted.
After we ate, I drifted back up to my room.
"I brought you some cake," said Terra, knocking on my door. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," I said, not turning around. Terra came and sat on the bed beside me.
"Not a nice day," she remarked, looking out the window with me. She was right; it had been drizzling and chilly all day. Morning fog still lingered in the trees.
"Want to come back downstairs?" she asked gently.
"Not really."
"I'm sure everyone would love to see you," she said. "You've been hard to track down lately."
She was right again. I'd been avoiding her and everyone else. She was my best friend; she didn't deserve it, but I couldn't bring myself to face her. She was too good at reading me.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.
I turned to look at her. Her eyes were brown and warm and full of empathy, her light brown hair framing her round, freckled face. I couldn't hide from her. I didn't want to hide from her.
"I don't want to go back," I said.
"To the Capitol?"
I nodded, looking back out the window at the trees behind the Victor's Village. I was the only one here. Johanna Mason and Blight had been dead for ten years, and the Village empty until my success last year.
"That makes sense," she said. "I wouldn't be too eager, myself."
"I don't know anyone there," I said. "Other than Marius. And I haven't seen him since I came back to Seven, since he's all the way in Two."
"Maybe it'll be nice to meet people who understand," she said.
"Maybe. But they're all older than me, and smarter than me," I said. "I don't stand a chance. I'm not qualified to Mentor anyone, Terra. They are."
"I'm sure there'll be a few nice ones," she offered. "People will talk to you. And, Acadia… you are qualified, you know. You're a survivor. You're the most qualified person in this whole district."
"Thanks," I said, my voice empty. "I have the most experience killing people, you mean."
"You did what you had to do," she said, firm. "And I, and everyone downstairs, are glad you did it. We didn't know if we'd be able to celebrate another birthday with you, but here we are. You won for a reason."
"Thanks," I said, looking at her again.
"Can I hug you?" she asked.
"Yes," I replied. She hugged me fiercely, squeezing the air from my lungs. I hugged her back.
"Come back downstairs," she said. "We want to celebrate you. You earned this."
"Fine," I said. I let her take me by the hand and lead me back downstairs.
*Hi, everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who has submitted so far! There are still some spots left if you want to send a tribute my way.
This is the last of the Prologues; after this, we're headed for the Reapings! They'll be out of order based on which tributes I have.
Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe, and I'll see you next time!
-r-b*