May The Odds Ever Be In Your Favor!

A Token From Home

I only have one more session of visitors, this one is filled with friends from the area. Jellon, Smark, and Alysm all come in. They don't cry. The all looked shocked, except Jellon, he looks like he'd been crying. Smark and Alysm just looked blank. Emotionless, as if like me, they couldn't believe it. They all stared at me, as if speculating how I was taking it. Wondering if I knew that even with all of the promises to my family, I probably wasn't coming back. And I did. I knew it with all of my heart. I wasn't coming back. It was my mind that was too slow to comprehend it. Smark ran up to me and hugged me. He was my closest friend. The one I cried to when mom died. The one I ran to when Luke would be overbearing. The one I asked for advice when my younger siblings had problems. Problems that moms and dads are supposed to solve. Not teens. He's just always been there for me. I know the only reason he probably isn't crying, is because he doesn't want me to see it. But I know it isn't fair. He will have to see me training. In the chariot ride. In the interviews. And probably getting killed in some inhumane way. Alysm began pulling my hair back as Smark and Jellon began filling me on on quick ways to survive. To naturally boost my physical abilities. And, like Luke, how to build shelters, tell which way to go, and which animals are poisonous, ect. And at the end of the pony tail. She gave me something that, it seems, I had just given to Jaden. She ties the ponytail with a light green hair tie. On it, is signed everybody I love, but there are so many names, it takes up both sides of the pony tail. I love it. Luke, Jaden, Mecson, Silenna, Jellon, Smark, and Alysm. They saved a small bit of room for a tiny symbol. A small 4-leaf clover. It is their way of telling me that they know I can win. I just need a bit of luck. And they are giving it to me in a way that I can always wear it and remember them. I love it. I silence Jellon and Smark with a long silent hug that we include Alysm in. We just sit there, embracing eachother until Peacekeepers come in and take them away. A moment later, they take me to the train station, where I see Jaeze again. I can see that neither of us have freaked out yet. Neither of us have accepted our fate. We know it, just don't accept it. I reach for his hand as we ascend the steps of the train together. He grabs it quickly, and helps me find a seat. I lean against the window, and wave to the people. None of my friends or family are there. Probably too much for them to bear. Maybe the Peacekeepers wouldn't let them see me off, it's possible. I just rest my head against the cool glass, finger the ponytail, and await for sleep to over take my consciousness and throw me into a pool of serenity and indifference.