Once again, I'm behind the mirror, watching Wiress and her prep team. She looked better today, though a bit down. I watch as she circled her face with her hand and sticks out her tongue.
Ugly. She thought she was ugly.
Tomorrow, she was going into the Arena, and she thought she was ugly. Why hadn't her father told her otherwise? I wonder if the boys at school teased her. Did the girls? I pressed my hands against the glass, wishing I could just talk to her. The words were all lodged in my mind and my heart.
Soon, soon, I would choke on them.
But Angelus made her laugh. I didn't hear precisely what he said to her but whatever it was, it stopped her from feeling awful. And I watch as they transform her into some amazing, elegant creature. When Angelus dressed her, it was as if she had several more inches of height. It was not precisely her, of course. Wiress is more comfortable in soft clothing, she always has been.
But she looked very poised and elegant.
I'm watching on a video screen, watching the interviews. How charming Wiress is! With her smile and her good teeth and her father's eyes, she was everything a District 3 Tribute could be. Should be. She laughed with Caesar Flickerman, she bantered with him, and there was her intelligence coming to the front of her brain, and I could tell when it happened. But she barely got warmed up before she had to end her interview.
I could listen to her talk all night. But now it was time for them to have dinner, and watch their performances and talk a little, perhaps.
But everyone was quiet and lost in their own thoughts. Even Wiress wasn't quite sure what to do now, and was quiet and reflective. I could see how scared she is. But still, she tried to comfort her district partner, hugging him tightly. And then, she tried to comfort her own Mentor.
"I'll do my best," she said. "I promise."
Beetee's eyes were wide behind his glasses. He hugged her back after a stunned moment.
He's a Victor. He doesn't get hugs. His family is gone. For a Victor, he's stunningly easy to read. But then, I've spent several years observing him.
"I know you will," he said with a sigh. He patted her back gently. "Go get some sleep."
Wiress left him then, and he sat back down at the table, removing his glasses and hunching over the table, his head in his hands.
Rayan patted him on the shoulder. "She does have a good chance. The sponsors are watching her closely."
"They're both so small, Rayan. And did you see that boy from Four? He's the biggest boy I've ever seen in the Games."
I felt as if I shouldn't be here, while they're talking, but I couldn't leave until I was dismissed.
"You should know size doesn't always matter in the Hunger Games, Beetee."
He groaned, fisting his fingers in dark, curly hair that was already starting to thin a bit. "Stop casting that up to me. Neither of them are electricians."
"But they've got skills of their own." Rayan sighed and patted Beetee's shoulder. "You've done your best."
I had never noticed the agony Beetee went through with the tributes before. I suppose now I noticed because I could sympathize with him.
When I was dismissed, I headed into Wiress' room. The room was quiet and dark, and my daughter was curled up in bed in only her underwear. And while her eyes were closed, she was still awake. Normally, I would go about my business till she was asleep, but this was her last night before she would go into the Arena.
Perhaps the last time I would see her alive. And so I sat down at her bedside, and she curled up around me and began to sob. The room was dark and no one could see as she put her arms around me, a bit awkwardly. I patted her hair and leaned over to kiss her, and she cried for a while till she was tired out. And then I kept stroking her hair until she was really asleep.
Sleep well, baby mine.