As soon as we enter the Justice building, Awren bursts into tears. Not that I can blame him, it's taking all of my willpower to not do the same. But I can't cry for myself knowing that he has it so much worse. Maybe in the games I could protect him. Not that either one of us stands a chance, but maybe I could buy him a few hours to make up for the years he has been robbed of.
One last person to cure, I guess.
The prospect gives me hope; maybe I won't be completely useless in the Games. After all, I reason, I have read almost all of the old medicine books, even the ones with plants from other districts! Suddenly, I am getting excited. Last year, the games took place in a forest not unlike the one beyond the border of District 12 where I go to gather herbs. Perhaps, with luck, I could be placed in an environment where I could survive off the foliage.
A peacekeeper guides me into a small room in the back of the Justice building. Beside me, I can see Awren being pushed into a similar room. Tears stream down his child's face, and I do my best to give him a heartening smile. I don't think I could convince anyone to feel hopeful in this situation.
The door shuts behind me, but then almost immediately opens again. It is Rory, he has come to say goodbye to me. Awkwardly, he stands in the doorway and wrings his hands. "I'm so sorry Prim." It's a simple sentiment, but I can't help it. The sight of my only friend looking at me like I'm already dead makes me burst into tears. Rory looks torn, like he is unsure as to whether he should comfort me, but the Peacekeepers make up his mind for him. They drag him out of the room and I don't even get to say goodbye.
As the door shuts behind him, the weight of my situation becomes so real upon my shoulders that I crumple to the ground. I can't. I CAN'T. This can't happen to me I have a mother and a job and a friend and a life. Why? Whywhywhywhywhywhy. This is looping through my mind as the sobs wrack my body. I am melting into the floor.
The door opens. I don't care. It's probably the peacekeepers come to tell me that no one else wants to see me, no one cares. Let them drag me away kicking and screaming, see if I care. I'm screwed anyways, no point in acting like I don't know it. But the peacekeeper kneels beside me and speaks with my mother's voice. She gathers me up in her arms and holds me close to her, softly running her fingers through my hair and mumbling comforting falsehoods to me.
"I will not leave you."
That's a lie. In less than 20 minutes I will be on a train ride faster than anything else in the world to the Capitol. I will never see my mother again. But she stays with me. Past when I am sure the five minutes allotted for visitation is past. Could what she said be true? It appears to be, because the peacekeepers are now ushering both of us out behind the Justice Building to an awaiting train.
Softly, my mother whispers, "They're letting us come with you to the Capitol for the Quell." Sure enough, Awren and his father are visible as silhouettes already on the train. Warmth and fear churn through my body, waging a war between hope and doubt. They wouldn't let the parents come unless they had some ulterior motive. This is only going to make it more painful for you in the end. But right now, having my mother with me is all I want. I can't think about the horrors of the future because the present is too overwhelming as it is. In no hurry to leave my home, I climb the carpeted step onto the glistening silver train. With my mother right behind me, I don't know what to think. She places a hand on my shoulder, and the cocktail of emotions settles in my gut. We board the train, and leave District 12 forever.