Venia, Octavia, and Flavius sit on my couch, babbling in excitement as the beautiful Katniss models the wedding dresses I created for her on the TV screen. I stand behind them, sipping a glass of water, and feel a pang of jealousy towards Peeta. Katniss is every bit as beautiful and breathtaking as I had once hoped she would be, not only in these dresses made by my hand.
The last dress fades and the prep team turns to me, praise spouting from their lips unrestricted. I take it with a quiet word of thanks, holding up my hand when I catch sight of President Snow. He has appeared on the screen. It's three months to the reaping, or as I tend to think of it, nine months after it. That means the reading of the card.
"On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district was made to hold an election and vote on the tributes who would represent it. On the fiftieth anniversary, as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district was required to send twice as many tributes."
Haymitch Abernathy, the mentor for District 12, won that year.
"And now we honor our third Quarter Quell. On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."
Octavia faints. Venia, the best controlled, bursts into tears, and Flavius flings his arms around her. Tears pool even in my eyes, as the realization hits me.
Katniss, my beautiful mockingjay, is going back into the arena.
Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me...