May The Odds Ever Be In Your Favor!

Goodbyes

Guards ushered us to the Justice Building and put Jaeze and I into separate rooms. Quickly, Luke burst in holding Selinna. Selinna was bauling and pressing her head into Luke's shoulder. Mecson was right on Luke's heels. His eyes were rimmed raw red. Luke put down Selinna, who ran to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I didn't move. I was frozen. I couldn't really make my self believe that I was going. Away. Into the Games. It didn't seem real. Yet it felt more than reality. I Luke grabbed my shoulders and started gushing random survival tips. What type of plants tended to point north. What tree's leaves were poisonous. How to make a quick lean-to shelter with only a large stick, some vines, and some large leaves. I could hear him. But nothing was proccessing. My face was sure to be completely blank, like it always was when I was in disbelief. I didn't even hear her come in. Jaden stood by the door. Just watching. Her eyes also looked rubbed raw. I sat down in the nearby chair, put Selinna on my lap. I beckoned for Jaden to come closer.

"Okay. We all know, that I may never see any of you again." It was harsh, but the truth. It needed to be ripped off like a band-aid. "I am going, to the Games." I said it out loud. It seemed more real that way. Selinna and Mecson sniffled loudly. "I will do my best. I am going to try my hardest to come back. But, if not? Jaeze, Mecson, you are going to have to start looking into getting work. Jaeze, you will have to be very mature and clean and cook more. I know you can handle that. Selinna, you will need to be a big girl and help out around the house. Luke, don't be too hard on them. I love you guys. So much." I managed a weak smile and whispered "Wish me good luck," Luke grabbed Selinna again and left. Mecson hugged me and followed. "Jaden-" I started. In between body racking sobs. "It's all my fault! If-if, I h-had just let somebody e-else volun-unteer, then you wouldn't be g-going.. It's all my fault!! I'm-so sorry!" "No, hey, it's okay. If you hadn't, I don't know if anybody would have. You were super brave. But I need you to keep it up, okay? Luke is going to need alot of help. All right, Jaden? And you know I won't go down without a fight. You know that! I'll make it back to you, okay? I promise. I hardly ever break my promises, huh? Look at me." Jaden lifted her head so that she met my gaze. Her light green eyes were watering profusely. I recited to her what had once been on a necklace Luke and I had bought her. It went like this: "I am always with you. Be brave, have courage, and love life." She only seemed to cry more though after I recited it. I sighed, and reached for my pocket. I pulled out some money, and a small charm. It was just of a small, green four-leaf clover. My favorite sign, because in my eyes, you can have education, love, dreams and everything... but to really have a wonderful life-sometimes you also need some luck on your side. I press it into her palm and she runs to find Luke.