"Haymitch Abernathy," Effie says. Her voice produces an echo around the silent square. It can't be…this can't be happening. Of course, I should have seen this coming. The odds are never in my favor. I look at Maysilee and see a single tear track down her face. She meets my eyes and I silently tell her to not cry. I don't want her to seem like a weakling to the competition. Pheonix starts to make a sound but I silence him with a look. I don't need him doing any favors for me. Pheonix gives me a pleading look but he knows all too well that I will NOT let him get away with it. I slowly begin to make my way to the stage.

I look into Maysilee's eyes and try to tell her that I love her so much and that I win't let her die. This doesn't work because her eyes begin to get watery as she figures out my message. I walk up the stairs and suddenly hear a distant sobbing sound. I look into the crowd and see my little sister slinging to my mother with tears cascading down her face. My mother has them too, the tears, they fall silently down her face as my father wraps his arms around her; comforting her just like I wish I could do to Maysilee.

"Well, this is going to be a WONDERFUL year isn't it now!" Effie exclaims. Oh Effie, if only you knew. The national anthem then proceeds to play and all the tributes shake hands. Maysilee and I give each other comforting squeezes when we shake our hands. I know this is probably killing her like it is killing me. We are escorted out of the square by burly peacekeepers. Our next destination, the Justice Building, where we will say our heart throbbing goodbyes to our family and friends.

We are piled into a musty old elevator and slowly creep our way upwards. It smells of rotten milk and moves like a snail. It takes us about five minutes just to reach the second floor. We are each escorted into different rooms. The room I am sent into is probably the most lavish room I have ever been in. I sit down on a velvet couch and wait for the allotted times to say goodbye.