Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Trading with Madge Undersee was awkward enough, the unspoken agreement we had to not talk about that day always lingered overhead, but now? Her eyes met mine as we shook hands in front of the District, her name and mine both called to enter the Games. I had never really thanked her, never even spoke to anyone about what she'd done.
It was no secret that she was the mayor's daughter. Well off, lots of money and fancy clothes, but that didn't make her uppity. She was one of the most selfless people I had ever met. And that is why I hated her.
When I was fourteen my father died in a mining accident. My mother was great at washing clothes, it was something she could do at home while watching the kids and at the same time make some sort of solid income. She was still pregnant with Posy then though, she couldn't go looking for work.
I went for her, asking around all the town people I had ever met, which was few. None of them would help. I was hungry, starving it felt, and as I was walking down the street I slipped, cutting my leg open and hitting my forehead on the cement.
I still hear her voice as clear as day, "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" she had raced over to me, helping me into a sitting position. I had seen her around, knew she was from town because of her blonde hair, but I didn't realize she was the mayor's daughter. "I saw you fall, are you alright?"
"Yeah," I nodded, pushing her away. "I'm fine."
"No," she shook her head. "You're bleeding! Here, my house is just over there, let me help you." I was young then, my head still dizzy from not eating for a few days, so I went with her. I sat on her porch as she scurried inside quietly, carrying back out antiseptic I had never heard of and bandages made of cloth I couldn't afford. Her nimble fingers made quick work of cleaning it and I cringed as it stung. "Sorry," she said sheepishly, "I forgot to warn you."
"It's alright," I forced out, watching as she wiped sweat from her brow. I looked up at her mansion, resenting her for everything that she had. She had a father. She had breakfast and lunch and dinner and probably snack in between that.
"What were you doing wandering the streets, anyway?" she had asked, slowly spreading some sort of cream over the cut. "Maybe I can help."
"You can't," I bit out at her. She cringed, but continued her work anyway.
"Sorry," she said weakly. "If you're looking for work then,"
"Just forget it," I muttered. She nodded and pulled her hands away. "Are you finished?"
"One last thing," she said, running inside quickly. I pawed at the bandage around my leg and groaned, my mom was gonna kill me. A few moments later she returned, a small basket in her hands. "Here."
"What's that?" I nearly snapped at her. Her face flushed as she placed it in my hands.
"Just some medicine for the cut," she gestured down. "So it doesn't get infected," she added quickly, before I could tell her I didn't need it. I gripped the handle tightly and looked down. "You can always return it when you're done." I nodded sharply, and then without another word I went on my merry way back home.
When I got there I told my mom about how I fell and how the mayor's daughter helped me. She rifled through the basket angrily, muttering about how we didn't need favors or people to pity us, but suddenly she stopped.
"What?" I had asked, sitting at the kitchen table. She lifted up a small sheet of paper with a list of addresses on them. "What's that?"
"Clients," my mother replied weakly. "For people in town." I narrowed my gaze as she continued to dig through, pulling out all of its contents. A small loaf of bread, a tiny bag of fruit. "Did you tell her what had happened with your father?" I shook my head quickly. "Well," she sighed. "Then this girl must just have a big heart." Under her breath I heard my mother add, "And may have just saved our lives."
The next day I left the empty basket on her stoop. I didn't talk to her, didn't see her for years. I forgot all about the incident until Katniss insisted we sell strawberries to them years later. With the food Undersee had left us we were able to eat for two nights, enough time for my mother to get a hold of the clients on the list she gave us and start a steady business.
And I see all of that reflected in her eyes as she drops my hand, her skin flushed pale as she stands across from me on the stage. Madge Undersee saved my life once, saved my entire family, and I never said thank you. And now we're going into the Games and I may never get the chance. I wonder if she knows I still have the scar.