I watch the sand as it fills the hole I just dug with my toes. Bored, I start digging another one until one of the walls meets the same fate as the other one and collapses. I exhale and look around. Not too far from me, two birds are fighting for what is left of a dead fish that the tide brought on the shore. For a moment, as I look to the place where I was standing six months ago, I am brought back to the day before the Reaping Ceremony, the day where everything changed. Since I came back from the Capitol after surviving the Hunger Games at the age of fourteen, nothing has been the same. Suddenly, I became the most popular person in the district. Now, people smile and wave at me in the streets, people give me free gifts even if I've never been richer and people name their sons after me. I'm not sure what I was expecting from a Career district, but it was certainly not that. I even started working at the academy, where I'm forced to show little kids how to use a trident so that they can volunteer in a few years and win, just like me. I lost count of how many very young children told me that they were going to do everything to participate in the Hunger Games in an attempt to win. Of course, I am not allowed to tell them not to do that, I'm expected to encourage that behavior. I stopped answering to that kind of comments a long time ago. If I can't prevent them from doing that, I will certainly not tell them to go ahead with this stupid dream of theirs that will only get them killed in the most horrible way. In the distance, I can see someone coming in my direction. Before that person can even become more than a black spot on the horizon, I know it's Mags. Even after the Games have ended, I still consider her my mentor and continue to treat her as such. We spent a lot of time together; my parents and her rapidly became good friends. I honestly don't know how I could've survived those past few months without her help. I get up and start walking in her direction; it must be time to get ready. Later today, I leave for the Victory tour. During the next three weeks, I will have to look into the eyes of the people I've hurt by stealing what was the most important to them: their children's life. I'll have to stand in front of a crowd that wishes that I was someone else. The districts that will be the most hard to visit are certainly those of my allies. I think that the thing I'm the most afraid of is seeing their faces on the screen behind their broken families. Of course, I still remember them as if I saw them yesterday. They never leave my memories, not even for a second. Neither did all of the others. Every morning when I wake up and every night before I fall asleep, I make a list of every tribute that died so I could live. It's not fun to do, it's quite the opposite, but it keeps me sane. This way, I never get to forget what I'm fighting for; I never get to give up, because I know that I owe it to them and all of those whose life was so heartlessly wasted inside of an arena. Before I know it, I arrive at the end of the beach where Mags is waiting for me. She's standing there, an encouraging smile on her face. She too changed a lot during the past few months. I don't think she ever fully recovered from the beating that she took to protect me from a danger that I still ignore. She also lost quite a few pounds, probably due to the stress. She's not getting any younger and sometimes, I get worried. She turned 71 not long ago, it's rare to live past 80 in the districts, even if you're considered wealthy. I don't like to think about the day where she'll leave to never come back, but I know it's getting closer and that there's nothing I can do against time.

"You went further today. Did you have a great time?" she asks as we walk towards the district center.

"Yeah; I wanted to swim a little, but the water is too cold." I answer, laughing.

"We're in the middle of winter, Finnick. What did you expect?"

She starts laughing too before stopping suddenly and looking at me seriously. Worried, I stop too, thinking that she has some bad news for me. It wouldn't surprise me; there were a lot of those since I came back. I look at the ground, bracing myself for yet another deception.

"Ateia, Ionel and your prep team brought something for you." she says in an excited voice.

"What? Is it another gift?"

"Yes, but I'm pretty sure you'll be happy about this one. Come on, we're almost there!"

Even if Mags seems pretty excited, I'm having a hard time feeling the same way. Since I came back, a lot of people from the Capitol have sent me expensive gifts; as if they didn't waste enough money on me already. When we reach my house, I can't wait but think how I miss my old life and my home. I still spend a lot of time there as my best friend's family moved in, but it's not the same. The door opens and Ateia bolts out, arms stretched waiting for a hug.

"I'm full of sand and my clothes are still wet. I wouldn't want to mess up your outfit." I say, trying to escape the situation.

After aquick look, she realizes that I'm serious and decides to take a rain check. Evenif Mags is behind me, I know she's smiling at how clueless my stylist is.Excited for what is to come, she pushes me inside where my prep team isfrantically waiting. I surely didn't miss all of that.