brave the current, my sunshine don’t let them drag. you. under. - - - yesterday had been a year. a year since I had lost. lost the game of life. how cruel the creators were probably enjoying their wine as they toasted to a successful day they had no thoughts of the mortals below who’s days were dwindling ever so shorter reaping day. something I had experienced three times and would have to experience three more if I made it through the day. I had woken up that morning, and the bird that had made it’s nest near my window wasn’t there I had frowned, sure that it would chirp me to awake me now that I think back on it, I wonder if it was helping me, letting me get the last peaceful sleep I would have. my house was small. it used to just hold me and my sister. after she died it felt even smaller. I had left that day, two braids hanging down my neck, tied with the same ribbon my mother used before she died. my father during these times would say ‘ mi cielo, hold strong, and kiss your fears goodbye, I will always be here. ’ he thought he was hilarious, rhyming, and how me and my sister would laugh but he wasn’t here and I couldn’t muster laughter it had been crowded, cramped and stuffy the twelve year olds sniffling, holding back tears and the eighteen year olds wishing. praying that this could be their last year a cheery, too done up capitol cat had hummed and bounced onto the stage, a wicked gleam in her eyes two tributes later, a hush descended upon the crowd as it had done the latter two tributes the capitol cat, eyes still gleaming of promises I was scared to see, made a ‘tsk’ sound ‘ delilah-anne elora ’ I don’t remember holding my breath, or even breathing before that but somehow the world went dark for only a second then it rushed in, cats turning their heads to look at me when all I wanted was to crawl into a shell ‘ delilah-anne elora, darling, why don’t you come up here? we would hate to use force ’ next I thing I knew, I stood on the stage, the sniffling children now looking at me holding onto each other’s paws they didn’t pity me. they couldn’t be more glad it wasn’t them. they didn’t know me. they didn’t want to know me I didn’t want to know them the less cats I cared about in my life, the better the last tribute had been reaped seconds later. I had stumbled my way home numb, shaking, scared. on the way, I had grabbed some leaves from outside my house, and some sticks. I shook them through my fur and placed the sticks on top of my head like antlers. when I got to my home, there the bird was. the one that had made a nest on my windowsill it didn’t sing now, perhaps it knew the sorrowful time and that place that moment was the only time I had cried in a year the creators were clever they knew how heartbroken I am and decided to make it into a game but… then I thought, what if the one thing standing between me and everything ive ever wanted is trying one more time? so this is what that is. I will try one more time if I shall fail then my mother and my father my sister, shall welcome me home there will be tall, soft grass and a sweet reunion of which will be lit by the morning sun and I’ll get to live that forever one. last. try.
