The moment I was reaped, the world seemed terrible. Mom would always take "adult medicine" to escape from the world. I thought this earth was beautiful, and nothing could ever ruin it, and why would anyone want to escape it? But I was so wrong. With just those two words; "Tara West" I saw the world around me darken. It seemed as if the birds stopped singing, the grass stopped dancing to the rhythm of the wind, and the flowers stopped blooming. Because then I understood the pain of the games. Mommy screamed, and Daddy's face darkened. But, I ignored their protests and calmly made my way to the stage, sealing my own fate. I had to stay strong for Mommy. She was already so broken, so weak, and so helpless that I couldn't break down and cry in front of her. So on the train, I would sit in her lap and we would braid each other's hair, weaving a little bit of our hearts into each other. And once we arrived in the Capitol, I found light again. The rooftop garden comforted me, the sweet scents of flowers all around me seeping into my soul and lifting my heart. Then, at the training center, I would stay in the camouflage section all day, and paint my body into a field of flowers, making myself the very things that kept me going. And when the gong sounded, signaling the start of the games, I ran towards the grassy marshes. That night was easy, sleeping to the swaying of the grasses. It seemed so peaceful, except the fact that I could be killed at any random second was still lingering in the back of my mind. I slept fine, with no interruptions, but by morning I was very hungry. I carefully crept out of the marshes, leaving the safe heaven behind me. After tip-toeing through the woods, I found a apple tree. So, I reached up to pick the apples. With five big, red, shiny apples in my arms, I was ready to go. But that was not allowed. The boy from 1 stepped out from the thicket, grinning madly. And that was it. His arm flew and the spear cruelly chose a straight path. I screamed in surprise, then doubled over in pain and fell. When my killer dropped to the ground, dead, with a trident through his heart, I couldn't help but feel sorry for all the children forced to play these terrible games. Perhaps under his mask of brutality, he really just wanted to get home safely. Even if it meant killing all 23 other tributes. Yet there I lay, on the ground amidst a patch of dandelions, hoping that someday, these games would be beaten. That people would live freely, and finally see the beauty of this world. And then, it was almost if I could hear my mother's screams and see her salty tears pouring down her face. Right now, in this moment, I still had to stay strong for her. So instead of crying and screaming again, I moved my hands in the old D6 gesture of love, the motions of giving my heart to her. Taking my last breath, I murmured, "I'll miss you Mama." And I did. So, after 10 years of waiting, my mother finally comes. It meant death for her, but she didn't mind. After I died, she wasted away, Daddy only barely keeping her alive. I could feel her hoping that Dad would find a happy life, and I knew he would. But not there. And he came shortly, running happily through the field of flowers. Inside, I wanted to scream, and cry, and ask him why? Why did he want to die? Why? But I knew. Living life without love is hard, and living life without hope is worse. So, here we are together again in death. We are once again a family, living and loving. Always.